Oakland County man didn't know he had $4M winning lottery ticket in drawer — for months

An Oakland County man who never scratches the prize amounts on winning Michigan Lottery instant games had no idea he had a ticket worth $4 million sitting in a drawer — for months.

The 59-year-old player, whose chose to remain anonymous, purchased the Millionaire's Club ticket at the Marathon gas station located at 3232 W. Walton Blvd. in Waterford, according to the Michigan Lottery.

When he saw he'd won, he put the ticket away and intended to cash it in the next time he needed extra money. He told the Michigan Lottery he likes the surprise of finding out how much he's won when he takes the ticket to the store to cash it.

However, when he took in the Millionaire's Club ticket, he received an unusual message.

"About three months later, I remembered I still had the ticket, and I took it to the store to cash it," he told the Michigan Lottery. "I got a message to file a claim at the Lottery office, so I finally scratched the amount. When I saw it was a $4 million winner, I was amazed. I couldn’t even fathom it. It’s been very hard to wrap my head around!"

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He recently claimed his prize and opted to receive it as a one-time lump sum payment of about $2.7 million instead of annuity payments for the full amount.

He plans to use the money to invest and start a new company.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Lottery: Oakland Co. man's Millionaire's Club ticket wins $4M