A simple road trip stop turned into a $2 million surprise for one Michigan man who stuck to a longtime tradition of scratching lottery tickets while traveling.
The 27-year-old Mackinac County player bought a $30 “Two Million Dollar Cashword” ticket at a Meijer gas station on W. 3 Mile Road in Sault Ste. Marie just before heading home from a trip with a friend.
He said it’s something he always does before hitting the road. “Every time I go on a road trip with family or friends, I grab a Cashword ticket to scratch during the drive,” he shared.
At first, nothing seemed unusual. He scratched along during the ride and thought he’d landed a decent win after spotting nine words—figuring it was around $10,000. But a closer look changed everything when he discovered a tenth word.
“I counted it a few times. Then it hit me… $2 million. I honestly broke down crying. It still doesn’t feel real,” he said.
What started as a casual habit quickly became a life-changing moment.
After claiming his prize at Michigan Lottery headquarters, he chose a lump-sum payout of roughly $1.3 million instead of annual payments. He plans to enjoy part of it on a Hawaii vacation and invest the rest.
Lottery officials say the “Two Million Dollar Cashword” game has already produced more than $27 million in winnings since its January launch, with major prizes still out there—including additional $2 million jackpots, along with thousands of smaller prizes still waiting to be claimed.
