Charles Wolthuis, 78, claimed a $1 million Powerball prize with his wife after hitting the jackpot earlier this month. (Michigan Lottery)
Lansing, Mich
A Michigan man says he had a morning that he will soon not forget after waking up to find out he won $1 million.
Charles Wolthuis, 78, matched the five white balls in the Oct. 2 Powerball drawing to win the jackpot.
“I called the winning numbers hotline and wrote down the winning Powerball numbers right when I woke up. I checked my ticket and saw I matched five numbers,” Wolthuis said. “I called my daughter and asked her to check and see what the prize is, and she said, ‘Dad, you won $1 million!’”
Wolthuis told the Michigan Lottery that his wife thought he was joking when he told her about the win.
“I woke my wife up and told her we won $1 million, but she thought I was kidding and went back to bed,” he said. “When she woke up, she told me she had a dream that we won the lottery.”
Wolthuis added, “I told her, ‘We did! That wasn’t a dream, we won $1 million!’”
The two recently visited Michigan Lottery headquarters to claim the prize money.
Wolthuis said he plans to pay off their home and buy a new truck.