Metro Detroit Woman Wins $1M Grand Prize During Pistons Game

A Grosse Ile woman won $1 million grand prize from the Michigan Lottery during a Detroit Pistons game.

Sarah Tawwater, 44, won the $1 million grand prize at the Millionaire Maker Second Chance live event that took place during the Pistons game at the Little Caesars Arena on April 8, according to lottery officials.

Tawwater was one of five finalists selected in a random drawing to participate in the event.

"I had just landed in Las Vegas when I got the call that I was chosen as a Millionaire Maker contestant and had the chance to win $1 million," Tawwater said. "I was in disbelief and had to sit down while I processed the news because these types of things just don’t happen in real life, or at least that’s what I thought!"

Tawwater earned a spot in the random drawing by scanning her non-winning Millionaire Maker instant game tickets on the Michigan Lottery mobile app.

"When the wheel was spinning, I thought it was going to tick over to red, so when it stopped on blue all I could think was: ‘There’s no way!’ I think I just went into shock," she said. "The whole experience still feels surreal."

With her winnings, Tawwater plans to buy new vehicles for herself and her husband, remodel her kitchen and then save the remainder.