MI Man Wins $1M Mega Millions Prize

NEW BALTIMORE, MI — A St. Clair County man said he is taking a European river cruise after winning a $1 million prize from the Michigan Mega Millions, according to lottery officials.

Ernest Rust, 66, matched the five white balls (20-24-33-39-48) in the Jan. 7 Mega Millions drawing to win $1 million, according to lottery officials.

He bought his winning ticket at the Shell gas station, located at 37820 Green Street in New Baltimore, according to lottery officials.

Rust told lottery officials he plays lottery games a couple of times a week.

"After the drawing, I checked my ticket on the Lottery app and thought: ‘Am I looking at this wrong,' he told lottery officials. "After I convinced myself that I was looking at the screen correctly, I told my wife, and it took her a little while to believe that I was telling the truth."

With his winnings, Rust plans to take a European river cruise and use the remainder to supplement his retirement, according to lottery officials.

"Every time I buy a ticket, I imagine winning big, but I never thought I would actually be one of the people you read about. To be sitting here claiming $1 million is just staggering," Rust told lottery officials.