Genesee County Man Wins $25,000 a Year for Life in Lucky For Life Lottery

Clio resident Carl Cooper hits jackpot with $25,000 a year for life after matching five winning numbers in the Michigan Lottery.


Carl Cooper Wins Life-Changing Lottery Prize in Clio

CLIO, MI Carl Cooper, a 67-year-old resident of Clio, Michigan, couldn’t believe his luck when his Lucky For Life lottery ticket hit the jackpot, winning him $25,000 a year for life. Cooper matched all five white balls in the Sept. 23 drawing, with the winning numbers being 01-21-24-27-48. He bought his ticket at Ernie’s Beer & Wine on North Saginaw Road in Clio, about 20 miles southeast of Saginaw.

After realizing he had matched all five numbers, Cooper was overwhelmed. “I started pacing the house and couldn’t stop!” Cooper shared, adding that he turned on the news and immediately saw a report about the big winner in Clio. “I yelled: ‘Hey, that’s me!’ It’s a surreal experience.”

A One-Time Lump Sum and Future Plans

Instead of opting for the annual payments, Cooper chose to take the lump sum payout of $390,000. He plans to use part of his winnings to buy a new snow blower and save the rest.

Lucky For Life’s Big Year

Lucky For Life has proven to be one of the Michigan Lottery’s most successful games in 2024, with 13 winners claiming life-changing prizes so far this year. “Lucky For Life has had an incredible impact on winners this year and has been one of the luckiest games for our players,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli.

Other Big Wins in 2024

Cooper’s win is one of several major wins for Lucky For Life players in 2024. Other big winners include a Flushing woman who claimed her prize on Feb. 20, and a Detroit woman who won on April 17. Several prizes from recent drawings, including tickets purchased on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27, have yet to be claimed.


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Paul Austin

Paul is a writer living in the Great Lakes Region. He dabbles in research of historical events, places, and people on his website at Michigan4You.When he isn't under a deadline, you can find him on the beach with a good book and a cold beer.

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