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MI Man Cashes $1M Powerball Ticket Months After Drawing

The man told lottery officials the winning ticket was left in his wallet for nearly two months after the drawing.

A Kent County man cashed in a $1 million Powerball ticket nearly two months after the drawing, according to Michigan Lottery officials.

Michael Vander Lugt, of Wyoming, matched the five white balls – 05-09-35-54-63 – in the Aug. 8 Powerball drawing to win a $1 million prize, according to lottery officials.

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He bought the winning ticket at Big Top Market, located at 3630 Clyde Park Avenue Southwest in Wyoming, according to lottery officials.

"I recently stopped at the party store to get a pop but realized when checking out that I didn't have enough cash on me," Vander Lugt told lottery officials. "Rather than use my card, I handed the cashier a few Powerball tickets from my wallet that I knew I had won at least a few bucks on."

One of the tickets came back with a message to file a claim.

"I recognized the numbers as soon as I saw them and started freaking out," Vander Lugt said. "I can't believe I had this ticket in my wallet for nearly two months not knowing it was worth $1 million."

With his winnings, Vander Lugt said he plans to pay off his mortgage and invest.

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