Michigan Man Claims $25,000 a Year for Life Lottery Prize After Forgetting Ticket—Twice

In a tale of remarkable forgetfulness and unexpected fortune, a Michigan man has claimed a life-changing lottery prize of $25,000 a year. Floyd Warstler, a 70-year-old resident, shared his extraordinary experience with Michigan Lottery officials, recounting how he initially overlooked his winning ticket not once, but twice before realizing the magnitude of his luck.

Warstler revealed that he regularly purchased a Lucky For Life ticket every Monday. Unbeknownst to him, the ticket he bought for the August 13 drawing held the secret to a life-altering prize. However, it wasn't until a month later that Warstler stumbled upon the ticket, having completely forgotten about it.

"I buy a Lucky For Life ticket every Monday," Warstler said with a hint of amusement. "About a month after the drawing, I realized I'd never checked this ticket, so I scanned it while I was at the store. I got a message to file a claim at the lottery office, so I thought maybe I'd won a $5,000 prize."

Warstler's first brush with forgetfulness proved to be just the beginning of his incredible journey. He ended up neglecting the ticket for a second time, placing it in his car and promptly overlooking it. It wasn't until a week later when his girlfriend stumbled upon the ticket that the truth started to unfold.

"I got in my car and set the ticket aside to check when I got home and ended up forgetting about it. A week later, my girlfriend found the ticket in my car and asked if I'd checked it," Warstler explained. Curiosity piqued, they checked the winning numbers online together. What they discovered left them astounded: Warstler had won $25,000 a year for life.

"We couldn't believe it," Warstler exclaimed, still in awe of his newfound fortune. "We went down south for the winter a few days after finding out I'd won, so I am very relieved to finally be at the lottery collecting my prize."

Opting for a lump sum payout, Warstler received a substantial sum of $390,000. With his windfall, he expressed plans to wisely invest his winnings, ensuring a secure and prosperous future.