Michigan Man Wins $200K in Powerball Lottery Using Kids’ Birthdays as Numbers
James Allen, 63, initially thought he won $50,000 but didn't realize he also matched the Powerball multiplier number
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty
A person plays Powerball lottery at a gas station as giant Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots grow more than $1B combined, in Trona, California, United States on July 11, 2023.A Michigan man made $150,000 in his sleep after cashing in on the Powerball!
James Allen picked a combination of his kids’ birthdays as his numbers and went to sleep on Dec. 30 thinking he had matched four numbers and won $50,000, the Michigan Lottery announced Wednesday.
But the next day, his luck had quadrupled because he had unknowingly also matched the Powerball number.
“I checked my ticket and went to bed thinking I had won $50,000 because I forgot about the Powerplay add-on game,” Allen said. “When I woke up in the morning, I checked again and realized I had actually won $200,000.”
The 63-year-old from the Detroit suburb of Commerce Township bought his winning ticket at Hoops Food, Sport, and Spirits located at 2705 Lapeer Road in Auburn Hills, according to lottery officials.
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Allen recently claimed his prize at the Michigan Lottery office, where he told officials that he would pay bills with the windfall.
Related: Va. Woman Wins Lottery Twice in 1 Week: ‘I’m in Disbelief!’
“Every time I play Powerball, I pick my kids’ birthdays,” he said. “This time, it really paid off.”
Serendipity and a dose of incredulity were also in play for another recent Michigan lottery winner.
In November, an unsuspecting Michigan man won more than $400,000 in a drawing — but thought it was a joke when he found out he hit the jackpot.
Related: Canadian Student Turns 18 and Buys First Lottery Ticket for 'Fun' — Then Wins $48 Million Jackpot!
“I play games online a lot, but I had no idea I was earning entries into a second chance giveaway when playing certain games,” the 67-year-old man, who asked to remain anonymous, told Michigan Lottery officials. “I saw an email from the Michigan Lottery saying I’d won a $416,322 second chance prize and I figured it was a scam email since I didn’t enter a giveaway.”
But the Kalamazoo County man really was the winner of the BIG CA$H Second Chance game following the Oct. 11 random drawing, according to the Michigan Lottery.
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