(WWJ) A western Michigan man is a millionaire after winning big on a $20 scratch-off lottery ticket.

The actual winning ticket (Photo: Michigan Lottery)

According to officials with the Michigan Lottery, a ray of sunshine led the lucky player, a 56-year-old resident of Newaygo County, to hit the $2 million playing the 100X The Cash instant game.

He bought his winning ticket at the BP gas station, located at 1028 W. Main Street in Fremont, Michigan, which is northeast of Muskegon.

"I was coming back to work after making a delivery and traffic on Main Street was jammed up, so I stopped at the BP to get a couple Cashword tickets," said the player, who chose to remain anonymous. "As the clerk was getting my tickets, the sun hit the front of the 100X The Cash ticket just right and it sparkled and caught my eye, so I asked for one of those too."

"I got to my truck and scratched the ticket off. When I saw I had a winner, I ran back inside and right away the clerk asked if I was all right. I showed her the ticket, and she started crying. Neither of us could believe I had a $2 million winner!"

He then headed home to share the good news with his wife.

"My wife was outside when I got home so I called her in to the house," said the player, who chose to remain anonymous. "When she came in, I was doing my happy dance and told her we'd won big. She didn't believe me and made me go back to the gas station to verify the ticket was a winner."

Claiming his big prize at Lottery headquarters in Lansing Wednesday, the man chose a one-time lump sum payment of about $1.3 million, rather than annuity payments for the full amount.

With his winnings, he says he plans to pay bills, buy a new car, and then save the remainder for retirement.

"Everyone who plays dreams of winning, but no one is ever really prepared to win this much. It made me instantly calm because I know I'll never owe anyone anything again," he said.

Lottery officials players have won more than $52 million playing 100X The Cash, which launched in December 2018. Each $20 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $20 up to $2 million.

In 2018, Lottery players won more than $1 billion playing instant games.