Oakland County Woman Claims $1 Million Just in Time!

The Big Win That Almost Expired

Imagine finding a treasure map, but you only have until the very last second to grab the treasure! That’s kind of what happened to one woman in Oakland County.

• On July 18, 2026, at 12:40 p.m. ET, news came out that a local woman cashed in her $1 million Powerball prize just hours before it would have gone away forever.
• A woman named Theresa Lynchosky, who is 63 years old and lives in Rochester Hills, won the money.
• She matched five white balls in the Powerball drawing held on July 14, 2025.
• The Michigan Lottery said on July 15 that she visited their main office to get her prize.
• Powerball tickets are good for one year from the date of the drawing — after that, they are worthless!

Important Point: If you win a lottery prize, you usually have one year to claim it. Wait too long and the money disappears!

Why She Waited So Long

Theresa had a secret for a whole year!

• She said she waited to claim the prize for personal reasons.
• She didn’t tell anyone about the big win until last week, when she told her best friend.
• "I was so happy to finally share the news with someone and I’m even happier to be here claiming my prize after waiting a year," she said.

How She Found Out She Won

Theresa likes to play Powerball on the internet.

• She plays regularly online.
• Her winning numbers were the five white balls: 8, 12, 45, 46, and 63.
• When the website told her she won $1 million, she was "stunned" (that means very surprised!).
• She took a picture of the message on her screen and kept looking at it because she couldn’t believe it was real.

What She Will Do With the Money

Good news for her savings account!

• Theresa told the Michigan Lottery she plans to save her winnings.

How the Lottery Helps Schools

Playing the lottery doesn’t just help winners — it helps kids too!

• The Michigan Lottery gives back up to 27 cents of every dollar spent on lottery games.
• That money goes to the state’s school aid fund (a piggy bank for schools).

Summary

Theresa Lynchosky, a 63-year-old from Rochester Hills, won $1 million by matching five white Powerball numbers in July 2025. She kept it a secret for a year, told her best friend last week, and claimed the prize just before it expired on the one-year deadline. She plays online, was shocked by the win, plans to save the money, and thanks to the Michigan Lottery, part of ticket sales also supports schools.

FAQ

1. What is Powerball?
Powerball is a lottery game where you pick numbers and can win big money if your numbers match the ones drawn.

2. Why did Theresa wait a year to claim her prize?
She said she waited for personal reasons and didn’t tell anyone until recently.

3. What numbers did she match?
She matched the five white balls: 8, 12, 45, 46, and 63.

4. Where does lottery money go besides prizes?
In Michigan, up to 27 cents of every lottery dollar goes to a fund that helps schools.