NILES, Mich. — A simple mistake turned out to be very lucky for a Niles man who won a $1 million Mega Millions prize from the Michigan Lottery.
Richard Hopper Sr., 69, matched the five white balls drawn — 18, 41, 50, 68, and 70 — in Friday's drawing to win the $1 million prize. He bought his winning ticket at the Sunrise Sunset Party Store, located at 1009 Huntly Road in Niles.
"When I stopped to buy my Mega Millions ticket, the clerk said he had accidentally printed an easy pick for another player who didn't want the ticket, and asked if I wanted to buy it or if I wanted another ticket," said Hopper. "I decided to buy the ticket that had already been printed off and boy, am I glad I did."
When Hopper checked his ticket Saturday morning, he thought he'd won $100,000.
"When I was looking at the winning numbers, I remember thinking 'boy, those look familiar,'" said Hopper. "At first I thought I had won $100,000 and I was pleasantly surprised when I learned I had really won $1 million.
"Sitting on $1 million all weekend was nerve wracking. It was definitely the longest weekend I've ever had."
Hopper visited Lottery headquarters in Lansing on Wednesday to claim his prize. With his winnings, he plans to pay off bills and save the remainder for a rainy day.
Friday's Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to $251 million. If a Michigan player win's Friday's jackpot, it would be the largest Mega Millions prize ever won in the state. A Port Huron couple, Ralph and Mary Stebbins, won $208 million on April 22, 2005.
Mega Millions drawings take place each Tuesday and Friday evening. Each Mega Millions play is only $1. For an additional $1 per play, players have the opportunity to add a "Megaplier" that can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to five times. Mega Millions tickets are sold in 44 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Tickets for Mega Millions drawings may be purchased at the Lottery's 11,000 retailers around the state until 10:45 p.m. the day of the drawing.
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Congratulations on the best mistake ever
The second best part is the previous customer will never know about it. First part of course that this guy got lucky and hit! If memory serves me correct this is the third time I read about a similar story with the largest being around $7 million in WA state.
Wonderful Mistake- Congrats.
Mega Millions tickets may be purchased until 10:45 p.m. EST, to be specific. So, cheers fellow gamblers.
Must be nice!!
I bet the clerk wishes he kept that ticket for himself. I know thats a minimum wage job but still, this isn't the first time something like this happened.
I think in some states that varies but could be wrong. Still have another day to do so.
Bought my on-line a few hours ago.
Someone who bought a ticket in that store is kicking their self in the ass. Only they know who they are, especially if they looked at it and remembered the numbers before saying they didn't want it.
The moral of the story. Always keep the mistake tickets. Ya never know...
Congrats to the lucky guy.
$1.00 and a dream paid off, congratulations to the winner.
Congratulations to Richard Hopper Sr.!! Any relation to Dennis Hopper?
His win is good for about $600,000.00
I've made mistakes filling out MM and PW lottery playslips. If I fill out the wrong number box I never correct it. Many times those numbers have come out. I would've also bought this ticket if the clerk would've offered it to me.
The Law of Attraction said you must know exactly what you want. I can debunk the LOA any time.
The people who rejected a ticket for that drawing know who they are...just knowing
I was at that store and the clerk printed the wrong ticket and I said I didn't want it, would
make me very, very I'll.
WTG winner!!!!
Isn't anyone going to say anything about 'Jr'?