'Winning Means Being Debt-Free:' MI Man Wins $1M Mega Millions Prize

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI — An Interlochen man is looking forward to a nice financial cushion after winning a $1 million Mega Millions prize from the Michigan Lottery, lottery officials said.

Kyle Becker, 37, matched the five white balls (11-32-43-57-70) in the Oct. 27 drawing to win the prize. He bought the winning ticket at Miracle Mile E-Z Mart, located at 509 Munson Avenue in Traverse City, officials said.

Becker said he was on his way to hunt at his property the morning he decided to stop at the market and check his Mega Millions ticket. When he scanned the ticket, the machine told him to file a claim. The clerk told him he must have won big, maybe a couple thousand dollars or so.

"When I got in my truck, I looked up the winning numbers and saw I matched five for a $1 million prize," Becker said. "When I told my wife how much we won, she didn’t believe me until I sent her a picture of the ticket. I was having a hard time believing it myself, but I couldn’t verify the prize until Monday morning when the Lottery office opened. I still can’t believe it’s real even though I am here claiming the prize!"

"Winning means being debt-free and having a nice financial cushion for me and my family," he added.

With his winnings, he plans to pay bills and live debt-free, lottery officials said.

Mega Millions drawings take place each Tuesday and Friday evening. Each Mega Millions play is only $2. 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 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.