DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. (FOX 2) - Who amongst us hasn't dreamt of a sudden financial windfall? Maybe it was a family heirloom found to be worth more than sentimental value. Maybe it was a long-lost uncle who left a fortune. Or, in the case of a Dearborn Heights man, maybe it was hitting it big in the lottery.
Matt Swindall admits that when he woke up on August 20, just before a trip Up North, that he did believe he was still dreaming when he got an email that he won $25,000 a year for life in the Michigan Lottery.
"I got up early to get ready to head up north for a friends weekend trip," said Swindall, 45. "I checked my email right when I got up and had one from the Lottery that was different than anything I had ever gotten. I logged in to my account, and really didn’t believe what I was seeing. I rubbed my eyes over and over, but the screen kept showing the same thing: I had won $25,000 a year for life.
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Matt bought his Michigan Lottery’s Lucky For Life ticket on the Michigan Lottery website for the drawing held on Thursday, August 19. He matched the five white balls drawn - 11, 12, 16, 38, and 48 to win the big prize.
But at that hour, who is there to tell? His wife - who said she didn't believe him.
"I woke my wife up and told her we’d hit the Lottery. Of course, she didn’t believe me, so I showed her my phone. She told me I was dreaming and went back to sleep!" Matt said.
Knowing the truth, Matt started the process of claiming his winnings. Only then did it really settle in.
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"When I called to make the appointment to claim my prize, it finally hit her that we’d won," he said.
Instead of $25,000 a year for life, Matt took a one-time lump payment of $390,000 He'll use the money to buy a new home, build up his kid's college funds, and save.
"Winning is pretty amazing and life-changing for us. It’s going to put us at ease financially for a long time to come," he said.
The game costs $2 per play and you can win between $3 and the lifetime of cash including $1,000 a day for life. That prize requires matching all five numbers from 1 to 48 plus one lucky ball between 1 and 18.
WATCH BELOW: Pontiac liquor store sells massive Powerball ticket
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Winning Powerball ticket sold at Pontiac liquor store
The winning Powerball ticket was sold at Huron Liquor Plaza store in Pontiac.