Theresa Lynchosky matched five white balls in the July 2025 Powerball drawing but sat on her $1 million ticket for 'personal reasons,' finally cashing it in at Michigan Lottery headquarters just hours before it expired.
A ticket rescued with hours to spare
Most lottery stories are about the moment of winning. This one is about the moment of almost losing. A Rochester Hills, Michigan woman walked into Lottery headquarters in Lansing to claim a $1 million Powerball prize just hours before her ticket was set to expire - a full year after the numbers were actually drawn. Michigan Lottery officials announced the claim in mid-July, closing the book on one of the longest waits the state has seen for a prize this size.
The win she sat on for a year
Theresa Lynchosky, 63, matched all five white balls - 8, 12, 45, 46 and 63 - in the July 14, 2025 Powerball drawing to win the game's $1 million second-tier prize. She had bought the ticket online through the Michigan Lottery. 'The day after the drawing I logged on to my Lottery account and was stunned when a notification popped up saying I won $1 million,' she said. 'I took a screenshot of the pop-up and kept going back and looking at it because I couldn't believe it was real.'
'Personal reasons' - and a secret kept close
Lynchosky told Lottery staff she deliberately waited to claim, citing personal reasons, and did not breathe a word of the win to anyone until the week before she came forward, when she finally told her best friend. 'I was so happy to finally share the news with someone,' she said, 'and I'm even happier to be here claiming my prize after waiting a year.' She said she plans to put the money into savings.
Why the deadline mattered
In Michigan, Powerball tickets are valid for one year from the draw date. Had Lynchosky missed the window, her $1 million would not have vanished into thin air - under state rules it would have been redirected to Michigan's School Aid Fund, which supports K-12 public schools, community colleges, and higher education. Instead, she beat the clock with only hours left.
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This article is reported from published reports and official lottery announcements. Details were accurate as reported; prize amounts and winner details can change as claims are processed - verify with the official operator. Amounts are shown in each game's own currency. TopLotteryOnline is not affiliated with any lottery operator. 18+. Play responsibly.
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