A Genesee County man paced his house after finding out he was the winner of a $25,000 a year for life Lucky For Life prize from the Michigan Lottery!

Carl Cooper, of Clio, won the big prize when his Lucky For Life ticket matched the five white balls drawn on Sept. 23: 01-21-24-27-48. He bought his winning ticket at Ernie’s Beer & Wine, located at 13167 North Saginaw Road in Clio. Clio is about 20 miles southeast of Saginaw.

“I started playing Lucky For Life a few years ago and every time I play, I use this set of numbers,” said Cooper. “I checked my ticket the morning after the drawing and was excited after matching the first three numbers. When I matched two more, I thought maybe I won $5,000. When I looked at the prize table and saw it was a prize of $25,000 a year for life, I started pacing the house and couldn’t stop!

“I turned on the news to try and calm down, and as soon as it came on, they were talking about the big Lucky For Life winning ticket that was sold in Clio and I yelled: ‘Hey, that’s me!’ Winning a prize like this is a surreal experience.”

“Players have cashed in playing Lucky For Life in 2024!” said Lottery Commissioner, Suzanna Shkreli. “With 13 players winning life-changing prizes of $25,000 a year for life, Lucky For Life has had an incredible impact on winners this year and has been one of the luckiest games for our players.”

Cooper, 67, visited Lottery headquarters recently to claim his prize. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000, rather than annuity payments of $25,000 a year for 20 years or life, whichever is greater. He plans to purchase a new snow blower and then save the remainder.

Lucky For Life has been exceptionally lucky for Lottery players this year. Players have won a lifetime of cash 13 times so far in 2024 playing Lucky For Life. The big wins came on:

• Feb. 20, with a ticket bought at Borders Corner Store, located at 7024 East Pickard Road in Mount Pleasant. This prize was claimed by a Flushing woman.
• March 12, with a ticket bought online at This prize was claimed by an Escanaba woman.
• March 23, with a ticket bought at the Value Center Market, located at 27428 6 Mile Road in Livonia. This prize was claimed by a Redford Township woman.
• March 25, with a ticket bought online at This prize was claimed by a Flushing man.
• March 26, with a ticket bought at Merriman Drugs, located at 31320 5 Mile Road in Livonia. This prize has yet to be claimed.
• April 17, with a ticket bought online at This prize was claimed by a Detroit woman.
• April 19, with a ticket bought at the Hub Sports Bistro, located at 16780 21 Mile Road in Macomb Township. This prize was claimed by a Macomb man.
• April 29, with a ticket bought at Morning Fresh Bakeries, located at 3223 North Adrian Highway in Adrian. This prize was claimed by a Lenawee County woman.
• May 16, with a ticket bought at the Shell gas station, located at 11541 East 15 Mile Road in Sterling Heights. This prize was claimed by a Sterling Heights woman.
• June 30, with a ticket bought at Hartland AC Holdings LLC, located at 10440 Highland Road in Hartland. This prize was claimed by a Fenton man.
• Sept. 22, with a ticket bought at the Sunshine Liquor Shop, located at 27342 Joy Road in Redford. This prize has yet to be claimed.
• Sept. 23, with a ticket bought at Ernie’s Beer and Wine, located at 13167 North Saginaw Road in Clio.
• Sept. 27, with a ticket bought at Lakeview Market, located at 9775 Elizabeth Lake Road in White Lake. This prize has yet to be claimed.

For just $2 per play, Lucky For Life gives Lottery players a chance to win prizes ranging from $3 to a lifetime of cash. To win the game’s top prize of $1,000 a day for life, players must match all five winning numbers ranging from 1 to 48, plus one Lucky Ball ranging from 1 to 18. Players who match all five winning numbers, but not the Lucky Ball, will win $25,000 a year for life. Drawings take place at 10:38 p.m. seven days-a-week. Tickets may be purchased at Lottery retailers across the state and online at Michiganmilotteryconnect.casinowinning.net.