Michigan Store Clerk's Mistake Leads to Man's Big Lottery Win

Sometimes mistakes just work out. A Michigan store clerk's goof led to a big lottery jackpot win for an Illinois man who loves to visit Michigan.

Michael Sopejstal enjoys coming to Michigan to eat at one of his favorite restaurants and purchased the winning ticket at the GoLo gas station in New Buffalo. New Buffalo is just north of the Michigan-Indiana line and about 50 miles from the Illinois border.

Gas Station Clerk's Mistake Leads to Big Lottery Win

Sopejstal tells the Michigan Lottery that he asked the store clerk for a ticket for 10 draws, but he misunderstood.

"I come to Michigan every few weeks to eat at my favorite restaurant and I always get a Lucky for Life ticket for 10 or 20 draws while I’m here," said Sopejstal. "I asked the retailer for a ticket for 10 draws, but he accidentally printed a ticket with 10 lines for one draw, but I told him I still wanted it."

The clerk's innocent mistake paid off and Sopestal wound up with a winning ticket for the September 17 Lucky for Life drawing.

"I checked my ticket one morning and saw that I had won $25,000 a year for life," he said. "I immediately started thinking about all the things I could do with the money and whether I wanted to take the lump sum or annuity option. It was an amazing feeling."

Lottery Winner Collects One Big Jackpot

Sopejstal decided to take a one-time payment of $390,000 and tells the Lottery he plans to use the money to travel and build up his savings.

Five Michiganians Whose Lives Were Ruined After Winning Big Lottery Jackpots

We all think winning the lottery would solve all of our problems. But you know what they say: "Be careful what you wish for."

Take a look at these five Michigan residents who won life-changing money from the Michigan Lottery. Unfortunately, all of their lives took a drastic turn for the worse after their wins.

Gallery Credit: George McIntyre

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