A 25-year-old Indiana woman won a $500,000 prize from the Michigan Lottery on a Detroit Lions scratch-off lottery ticket, which she received during a white elephant gift exchange with her family.
Emily Hickox discovered that she won the prize on Christmas, which is also her birthday.
“My cousin purchased the ticket for the white elephant gift exchange at our family Christmas party,” said Hickox. “My dad actually won the ticket in the gift exchange, and I won the gift he brought, a flashlight. He wanted his gift back, so we made an agreement after the game to trade gifts.”
She initially thought she won $50,000, but after downloading the app she realized she actually won a $500,000 prize.
Hickox’s cousin bought the ticket at the Meijer store at 2799 10 Mile Road in Rockford.
The lucky winner recently claimed her prize and said she plans to buy a new car, invest, and share her winnings with her parents and cousin who bought the lottery ticket.
“We love hearing all of the fun and exciting ways our players find out they’ve won big prizes, and a win like this is what every Lottery player dreams of!” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “Winning a prize of $500,000 is a thrill in itself, combined with the excitement of winning on Christmas, and your birthday, from a ticket you received as a gift makes it even more incredible. Congratulations Emily!”
Players have won more than $21 million from the Detroit Lions game since it launched in September.
Every $5 ticket gives players the chance to win prizes from $5 up to $500,000.