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'?
"If the lotto machine prints a mistake, then the mistake you must take!"
He states that...
"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.
If it was so nerve wracking, why didn't he go claim his million on Tuesday?
Congrats Mr Hopper
His son probably had to go to work Tues to arrange time off on Wed so he could drive Dad to collect.
Congratulations to the Lucky man!!!
This is exactly why I always tell my son if they print a ticket and it's a mistake ALWAYS, ALWAYS Buy it anyway because you never know! If theirs one already printed that was a mistake purchase it also, could be the 1? CONGRATULATIONS MR. HOPPER AND SON!!!
Maybe Mr. Hopper also sought Legal Council and papers drawn up before he wanted to claim his winnings, just because it wasn't a Multi-Million dollar winner doesn't mean you shouldn't have all your DUCKS in a row before claiming a Ticket that's worth more then a few Hundred Thousand!
Just perhaps, chance (luck) is a fool's word for fate?
Congrats
Fortes Fortuna & Harmonia
Eddessa_Knight with Light
Any ticket can win.
Someone will soon realize it was the "mistake ticket" they did not purchase at that store.
Since most in life are random, if the person who decided not to purchase the ticked, had purchased it instead it would not have won.
this has happened to me at least 5 times where I was offered a "mistake" ticket and no win. So it doesn't really matter IMO.
That was unbelievable.
eddessaknight, I am beginning to think about "luck" and "chance" the same way. They are so common that I am looking for a different word. Fate could be that word. Thank You.
I saw a video and a recent tv ad that showed how early man would more likely end up as dinner then find dinner. There were a lot more claws and teeth on dangerous animals back then. Today most of us are fat and happy.
You being in Las Vegas must know how gambling began. People wanted to know the future. Will I win this battle? Will I become rich? They used bird's entrails, Prophets, and many others. Some prophets had ulterior motives so a better system was created. Sticks and stones. They could not be influenced by threats or promises of riches. Now we have dice, balls, cards, and machines.
May fate be your fortune!
I,ve heard of stories where folks have won off of mistakes,the luck of the draw.Is it just me Rich jr. looks like he could be his dads body guard.