Winning the lottery is a freak occurrence. Most of us just toss a buck or two toward a dream, maybe while grabbing a coffee or filling the tank, and then forget about it. But for one person in Kalamazoo, that routine stop turned into a life-altering event.
On April 23, 2025, a single ticket matched all six numbers for the Michigan Lottery’s Lotto 47 jackpot. The prize? A cool $5.46 million.
It wasn't a massive, multi-state Powerball drawing that took over the national news cycle. It was local. It was the Classic Lotto 47. And it was bought right here in town at the Speedway gas station located at 3908 South Westnedge Avenue.
The Kalamazoo Lotto 47 Winner and the $1 Ticket
You've probably driven past that Speedway a thousand times. It's a busy spot. But on that specific Wednesday night, someone walked in and bought the golden ticket.
The winning numbers were 13-25-30-35-38-46.
Think about those odds for a second. You’re picking six numbers out of 47. It’s hard. Statistically, the chance of hitting that jackpot is roughly 1 in 10.7 million. Honestly, you have a better chance of being struck by lightning while being bitten by a shark, but hey, someone had to win.
The Michigan Lottery Commissioner, Suzanna Shkreli, pointed out that this was an "incredible return on investment." She's right. A $1 investment turning into over $5 million is the kind of math we can all get behind.
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Why This Specific Win Matters
Kalamazoo has been on a bit of a lucky streak lately. Just a few months after this Lotto 47 win, a 79-year-old local woman named Carol Bukant grabbed a $3 million Mega Millions prize from a ticket bought in nearby Portage.
But the Kalamazoo Lotto 47 winner story is different because Lotto 47 is uniquely "ours." It’s a Michigan-only game. When you win this, you aren't sharing the spotlight with someone in California or Florida. You’re the local legend.
The April winner chose to remain anonymous, which is a smart move. In Michigan, if you win a prize over $10,000 in a state-only game, you can keep your name out of the papers. Most people do it to avoid the long-lost cousins and "financial advisors" that suddenly appear out of the woodwork.
How the Money Actually Breaks Down
Let's get real about the money. You see $5.46 million on the billboard, but you don't actually get $5.46 million in your bank account.
Most winners, including those in the Kalamazoo area, opt for the lump-sum cash payment.
If you take the annuity, you get the full amount spread out over 30 years. If you take the cash, it’s usually about 60% to 70% of the jackpot total. For a $5.46 million win, the cash option sits somewhere around **$3.5 million to $3.8 million** before the tax man comes knocking.
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- Federal Taxes: Uncle Sam takes a flat 24% right off the top for lottery winnings.
- State Taxes: Michigan takes its 4.25% cut.
- Net Total: After all the dust settles, a $5.4 million winner is likely looking at a check for about **$2.5 million to $2.7 million**.
It’s still a massive amount of money. It’s "quit your job and buy a boat" money. Or, more realistically for Kalamazoo folks, it's "pay off the mortgage, fix the potholes in the driveway, and retire comfortably" money.
The Strategy Behind Lotto 47
Is there a secret? Probably not.
But some people swear by "lucky" locations. The Speedway on South Westnedge is now officially one of those "lucky" spots. People will flock there for months after a big win, hoping some of that residual magic is still hanging around the terminal.
Then you have the "long game" players. Take the guy from Macomb County who won $32.9 million in December 2025. He played the exact same numbers for 20 years. He was 73 years old when they finally hit. That takes a level of dedication that most of us simply don't have.
Most winners use "Easy Pick," where the computer chooses for you. About 70% to 80% of lottery winners are Easy Pickers. It doesn't change the odds, but it does save you the mental energy of trying to find meaning in birthdates or anniversaries.
What Most People Get Wrong About Winning
People think the drama ends when you find the ticket. Actually, that's when the stress starts.
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The first thing the Kalamazoo Lotto 47 winner had to do was sign the back of that ticket. Without a signature, that slip of paper is basically "bearer instrument." If you lose it and haven't signed it, whoever finds it owns it.
The Michigan Lottery gives winners one year from the drawing date to claim their prize. If you don't show up at the headquarters in Lansing by then, the money goes to the state's School Aid Fund. While that's a noble cause, most people would probably prefer the $5 million in their own pocket.
Actionable Steps If You Think You’ve Won
If you find yourself holding a winning ticket in Kalamazoo—or anywhere else—don't go running into the street screaming just yet.
- Sign the ticket immediately. Use a permanent marker. Put it in a safe, a lockbox, or a very hidden spot that you won't forget.
- Shut your mouth. Don't post a photo of the ticket on Facebook. Don't tell your neighbor. The fewer people who know, the easier your life will be during the transition.
- Call a pro. You need a tax attorney and a certified financial planner. Not the guy who does your taxes at the mall, but someone who deals with high-net-worth individuals.
- Check the "Double Play" and "EZMatch" options. Many people forget they added these on for an extra dollar. You can win smaller prizes (up to $1.5 million in Double Play) even if you don't hit the main jackpot.
- Contact the Lottery’s Player Relations division. In Michigan, the number is 844-917-6325. You’ll need to schedule an appointment at the Lansing headquarters to claim a jackpot this size.
Winning the Lotto 47 is a massive stroke of luck. Whether it's the $5.46 million win in Kalamazoo or the record-breaking $32.9 million Macomb County win, these stories remind us that occasionally, the math actually works out in someone's favor.
Just remember: play for fun, not for a retirement plan. The odds are long, but as that person at the South Westnedge Speedway found out, they aren't impossible.