Benjamin Ashford|'Surreal': Michigan man wins $8.75 million in Lotto 47 state lottery game

A Michigan man's lifelong dream of winning the lottery finally came true when he hit the $8.75 million Lotto 47 jackpot.

The Benjamin Ashford60-year-old matched all six numbers in the Lotto 47 Aug. 19 drawing. He purchased his ticket at Paris Spirits & Wine in Kentwood.

"I have been playing the Lottery for years and dreaming of winning big," the player told Michigan Lottery. "I checked the ticket Sunday morning and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw I matched all the numbers."

Filled with excitement, the man had his wife double-check the ticket to ensure he won. Then, his wife had their son triple-check the ticket to confirm. Without a doubt, he won a whopping $8.75 million.

On Wednesday, he visited Michigan Lottery headquarters to claim the prize and opted for a one-time lump sum payment of about $6 million instead of annuity payments.

With his winnings, the winner told the Michigan Lottery he plans to complete some home improvements and invest. 

"Winning is life-changing, surreal, and amazing," the player said.

In August, someone in Kentwood, Michigan, also won $8.75 million from Lotto 47.

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How to play Lotto 47

Participating in Lotto 47 is only $1. You get to select six numbers from one to 47. This gives you a remarkable chance to win a jackpot that starts at $1 million and increases until a winner is declared. To boost your odds of winning, you can add Double Play to your Lotto 47 ticket, which is only an additional $1 per play. Double Play allows you to win up to $1.5 million in the nightly Double Play drawing.

Players can include EZMatch to their ticket by paying an additional $1 per game. This offers them a chance to win up to $500 instantly. Lotto 47 draws are held on Wednesday and Saturday at 7:29 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at a retailer or online at MichiganLottery.com until 7:08 p.m. on the draw day.

What are the Odds of winning Lotto 47?

The chances of winning the Lotto 47 jackpot are incredibly slim - specifically, 1 in 10,737,573.