Unfortunately, as many Michiganians return to work this week after the Christmas holidays, a would-be quarter-of-a-millionaire has lost a life-changing Powerball prize.
This after MI State Lottery officials say no one came forward Thursday late afternoon to claim the $250,000 Powerball prize. Thus, claim to the $250,000 winning Powerball ticket expired and the prize automatically went to the state School Aid Fund.
The ticket which is worth a quarter of a million was purchased last year at Cleary’s Pub, located at 117 East Grand River Avenue in Howell a city within the Metro Detroit region.
As mentioned in a previous article, MI lottery Powerball tickets are valid for one year from the date of the drawing. Thus, claim to the $250,000 life-changing Powerball prize expired at 4:45 p.m, 10, January 2019.
As a result, this unclaimed prize goes down in history as the first major Michigan Lottery prize to go unclaimed in 2019.
However, the biggest record for an unclaimed MI Lottery prize is $34 million. A record set in 1998. Held by a winning Michigan Lotto game ticket, purchased at the Meijer located in East Lansing, went unclaimed.
The unknown holder of the winning ticket matched four white balls and the Powerball – 07-24-33-49-50 PB: 4 – on Jan. 10, 2018, to win $50,000. Thanks to Powerplay, the prize multiplied by five for a $250,000 prize.
But perhaps this loss is a blessing in disguise. Remember the lottery curse. Studies constantly conclude that instead of getting people a better life, winning the lottery often gets winners into distress. And statistically, bankruptcy rates soar for lottery winners three to five years from winning.
