Michigan Man Finds $1 Million Powerball Ticket After Nearly Two Months

A Michigan man got the surprise of a lifetime after discovering he had been carrying a $1 million Powerball ticket in his wallet for nearly two months.

Michael Vander Lugt, 54, of Wyoming, recently stopped at a party store to buy a soda but realized he didn't have enough cash. Instead of reaching for his credit card, he handed the cashier a few Powerball tickets he knew had won smaller prizes.

One ticket triggered a message instructing him to file a claim at the lottery office. Curious, Vander Lugt checked the winning numbers on his phone while sitting in his car.

"I recognized the numbers as soon as I saw them and started freaking out!" he told the Michigan Lottery. He couldn't believe he'd been carrying a ticket worth $1 million without realizing it.

His winning numbers were 5, 9, 35, 54 and 63, matching all five white balls in the August 8, 2026, Powerball drawing.

Vander Lugt purchased the lucky ticket at Big Top Market on Clyde Park Avenue SW in Wyoming, Michigan. He has since claimed his prize and plans to pay off his mortgage and invest the remaining money.

What started as a simple soda purchase turned into a life-changing discovery!