Man didn’t pick up phone — and learns he missed call about huge Michigan lottery win

A 51-year-old man almost missed his chance at a huge lottery prize after ignoring an incoming call because he “didn’t recognize the phone number,” Michigan Lottery officials said.

The Ingham County man was at work when he received an incoming call from a number he didn’t know, according to a May 3 news release from the Michigan Lottery. They were calling to tell him he’d won $625,162.

“I like playing all of the second chance games and I always hoped I would win big on one of them,” the man said in the release.

The player listened to his voicemail and realized it was from the lottery, but he “wasn’t sure what they were calling about,” officials said.

“When I called the Lottery back and was told I had won a $625,162 Monthly Jackpot Progressive prize, I was in awe,” the winner told lotto officials. “Although I always hoped I would win, I never thought I actually would, so it is an incredible feeling!”

The winner plans to use the money on bills and put the rest toward retirement, officials said.

Ingham County is about 90 miles northwest of Detroit.

This story was originally published May 3, 2023 at 1:17 PM with the headline "Man didn’t pick up phone — and learns he missed call about huge Michigan lottery win."