• Home
  • News
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Web stories
    • Trending
    • Press Release

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest USA News and updates directly to your inbox.

What's On
Mormon Wives’ Miranda McWhorter Shares ‘Backstabber’ Post After Jessi and Chase Kiss Drama

Mormon Wives’ Miranda McWhorter Shares ‘Backstabber’ Post After Jessi and Chase Kiss Drama

March 27, 2026
American Airlines flight attendant vanishes during Colombia layover: ‘His family is desperate’

American Airlines flight attendant vanishes during Colombia layover: ‘His family is desperate’

March 27, 2026
Reporter’s Notebook: The hitchhiker’s guide to what’s next to end the DHS shutdown

Reporter’s Notebook: The hitchhiker’s guide to what’s next to end the DHS shutdown

March 27, 2026
Cam Newton excited to amplify authentic content as his Iconic Saga Productions joins Offscript Worldwide

Cam Newton excited to amplify authentic content as his Iconic Saga Productions joins Offscript Worldwide

March 27, 2026
Trey Kaufman-Renn’s controversial tip-in gives Boilermakers spot in Elite Eight, ends Texas’ Cinderella story

Trey Kaufman-Renn’s controversial tip-in gives Boilermakers spot in Elite Eight, ends Texas’ Cinderella story

March 27, 2026
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Just In
  • Mormon Wives’ Miranda McWhorter Shares ‘Backstabber’ Post After Jessi and Chase Kiss Drama
  • American Airlines flight attendant vanishes during Colombia layover: ‘His family is desperate’
  • Reporter’s Notebook: The hitchhiker’s guide to what’s next to end the DHS shutdown
  • Cam Newton excited to amplify authentic content as his Iconic Saga Productions joins Offscript Worldwide
  • Trey Kaufman-Renn’s controversial tip-in gives Boilermakers spot in Elite Eight, ends Texas’ Cinderella story
  • Major airlines are letting some passengers who missed flights amid TSA madness rebook for free
  • What are today’s mortgage interest rates: March 27, 2026?
  • KINKY BOOTS Tour First Look
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Contact
US Times MirrorUS Times Mirror
Newsletter
  • Home
  • News
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Web stories
    • Trending
    • Press Release
 Weather Login
US Times MirrorUS Times Mirror
Home » From $20 to $1M: Gas station gambler’s last-minute ticket hits jackpot: ‘I started screaming!’
Lifestyle

From $20 to $1M: Gas station gambler’s last-minute ticket hits jackpot: ‘I started screaming!’

staffstaffMarch 27, 20261 ViewsNo Comments
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Telegram Pinterest Email
From  to M: Gas station gambler’s last-minute ticket hits jackpot: ‘I started screaming!’

Talk about a pit stop payoff.

A Michigan man turned a modest $20 win into a seven-figure score after a late-night gas station run spiraled into a full-blown jackpot frenzy.

The 31-year-old — who’s opting to stay anonymous — stopped by a Wesco station in Kent County to cash in a small winning ticket, never imagining he’d walk out hundreds of thousands richer.

A Michigan man turned $20 into $1M at a gas station, while a South Carolina woman scored $200K on a scratch-off — ordinary stops, life-changing luck. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“I stopped at the Wesco station late one night to cash in a winning Lottery ticket,” he said, as per a Michigan Lottery news release.

The payout? Just $20.

But instead of pocketing the whole thing, the mystery man decided to press his luck — and it paid off big time.

“I won $20, so I put $10 in my pocket and bought one Electric 100s ticket,” he said.

That spur-of-the-moment gamble turned into the ultimate glow-up.

“I scratched the ticket in the store, and when I saw that I had won $1 million, I started screaming!” he said.

He added, “It’s a good thing no one else was in the store, because they would have thought I was going insane!”

The winning ticket was purchased at a Wesco gas station on North Main Street in Cedar Springs, about 20 miles north of Grand Rapids — proving lightning really can strike in the most ordinary places.

“Winning $1 million is life-changing and means I can do what I want to do,” the mystery winner said. milotteryconnect

The newly minted millionaire recently claimed his prize at Michigan Lottery headquarters, opting for a lump sum payout of about $693,000 instead of annuity payments.

As for what’s next? He’s keeping it simple.

The winner plans to buy a new car and stash the rest — a practical move for someone who just hit the kind of jackpot most people only dream about.

Still, the magnitude of the moment hasn’t been lost on him.

“Winning $1 million is life-changing and means I can do what I want to do,” he said.

Not a bad return on a $10 whim.

But lottery luck wasn’t limited to Michigan.

The winning ticket was purchased at a Wesco gas station in Cedar Springs, Michigan. Google Maps

As previously reported by The Post, down in South Carolina, a woman struck it rich this week after buying four $5 scratch-off tickets in a single day — one worth a whopping $200,000.

“It was exciting,” she told South Carolina Education Lottery officials.

She broke even on the first two tickets, won $5 on the third, and then hit the big one on a My Money Maker ticket — the last jackpot ticket available for that game, lottery officials said.

“When it sinks in, I can let you know how it feels,” she told WYFF TV.

The woman, whose identity has not been released, played her tickets in the car at the store’s parking lot. She ran back inside to share the news the moment she realized she’d won.

“It’s a friendly place, that’s why I stop there,” she said, as staff cheered and congratulated her. The Corner Pantry also collected a $2,000 commission for selling the winning ticket.

With a one-in-9,000 chance of hitting the My Money Maker jackpot, she plans to buy a house with her newfound wealth. “I still haven’t wrapped my brain around it,” she admitted.

From $20 to $1 million — and $200K on the same day in another state — it seems lottery luck is alive and well, hitting ordinary spots and turning everyday stops into life-changing moments.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram WhatsApp Email

Related News

Major airlines are letting some passengers who missed flights amid TSA madness rebook for free

Major airlines are letting some passengers who missed flights amid TSA madness rebook for free

Texas fast-food chain delivers best burger value among top rivals

Texas fast-food chain delivers best burger value among top rivals

Exclusive | NYC fashion’s in tatters as frugal distressed duds trend haute-s up  — with Prada now charging K for an ‘antiqued’ jacket

Exclusive | NYC fashion’s in tatters as frugal distressed duds trend haute-s up — with Prada now charging $8K for an ‘antiqued’ jacket

Fox News Digital’s News Quiz: March 27, 2026

Fox News Digital’s News Quiz: March 27, 2026

Southwest customers slam airline’s ‘fat tax’ policy — after ‘embarrassed’ traveler slapped with ,000 second seat

Southwest customers slam airline’s ‘fat tax’ policy — after ‘embarrassed’ traveler slapped with $1,000 second seat

The suite spot: This room category is Palm Beach’s secret hotel power reservation

The suite spot: This room category is Palm Beach’s secret hotel power reservation

Pop-Tarts creates ‘Super Stuffed’ pastries with 50% more filling after years of customer demand: ‘Drooling over this’

Pop-Tarts creates ‘Super Stuffed’ pastries with 50% more filling after years of customer demand: ‘Drooling over this’

Dear Abby: My wife is having an affair with a convicted murderer and wants to divorce me

Dear Abby: My wife is having an affair with a convicted murderer and wants to divorce me

Boca Raton’s sluggish office market galvanized with decade defining development

Boca Raton’s sluggish office market galvanized with decade defining development

Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest News

Review: Record Shares of Voters Turned Out for 2020 election

Review: Record Shares of Voters Turned Out for 2020 election

January 11, 2021
EU: ‘Addiction’ to Social Media Causing Conspiracy Theories

EU: ‘Addiction’ to Social Media Causing Conspiracy Theories

January 11, 2021
World’s Most Advanced Oil Rig Commissioned at ONGC Well

World’s Most Advanced Oil Rig Commissioned at ONGC Well

January 11, 2021
Melbourne: All Refugees Held in Hotel Detention to be Released

Melbourne: All Refugees Held in Hotel Detention to be Released

January 11, 2021

Subscribe to News

Get the latest USA News and updates directly to your inbox.

Editor's Picks
Review: Record Shares of Voters Turned Out for 2020 election

Review: Record Shares of Voters Turned Out for 2020 election

January 11, 2021
EU: ‘Addiction’ to Social Media Causing Conspiracy Theories

EU: ‘Addiction’ to Social Media Causing Conspiracy Theories

January 11, 2021
World’s Most Advanced Oil Rig Commissioned at ONGC Well

World’s Most Advanced Oil Rig Commissioned at ONGC Well

January 11, 2021
Facebook X (Twitter) Pinterest WhatsApp TikTok Instagram
2026 © US Times Mirror. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below.

Lost password?