'A Total Fluke': MI Man Wins $1 Million On Scratch-Off Ticket Mistakenly Given To Him

VAN BURNE, MI — A Michigan man won $1 million on a lottery ticket that a cashier mistakenly gave him, according to Michigan Lottery officials.

The 45-year-old man bought the winning Major Cashword scratch-off ticket at the Speedway gas station, located at 855 South Kalamazoo Street in Paw Paw, officials said.

"I play Cashword tickets occasionally, but purchasing this ticket was a total fluke," said the lucky player, who chose to remain anonymous.

He said he initially asked for a different ticket, but the cashier mistakenly handed him the Major Cashword ticket instead.

"When she realized she gave me the wrong ticket, she offered to give me the game I’d asked for, but I told her I would just keep the Major Cashword ticket instead," he said.

When he scratched the barcode and scanned it on the lottery app, he thought it was a prank when he saw a $1 million pop up on the screen, officials said.

"Once I realized it was real, I put the ticket in a jar and buried it in the yard because I was so paranoid something would happen to it if I kept it in the house," he said.

He chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $634,000, rather than annuity payments for the full amount, officials said.

With his winnings, he plans to pay bills, pay off his home and save for retirement, officials said.