Mid-Michigan Breakfast Club Group Claims $842.4 Million Powerball Prize
Ines Neumann · Sep 2, 2026
Mid-Michigan Breakfast Club Group Claims $842.4 Million Powerball Prize
The Michigan Lottery announced that members of The Breakfast Club lottery club secured the $842.4 million Powerball jackpot from a ticket purchased on New Year’s Day at a convenience store in Grand Blanc Township near Flint, and the group consisted of a mid-Michigan couple along with a lawyer from the west side of the state. Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli confirmed the details during the official announcement, and the winners selected the cash lump sum option valued at $305 million after taxes.
The ticket matched all six numbers drawn on that New Year’s Day, and the group formed their club years earlier to pool resources for regular lottery purchases. Attorney Mark Harder represented the club at the announcement and described the middle-aged couple as elated and overwhelmed, thrilled and nervous about the sudden change in circumstances.
Details of the Winning Ticket and Purchase Location
The winning ticket came from a convenience store located in Grand Blanc Township, and that store sits near Flint in Genesee County. Lottery officials verified the ticket through standard validation procedures before scheduling the public announcement, and the group maintained their anonymity except for the limited statements released through their attorney. The Powerball drawing occurred on New Year’s Day, which aligned with the club’s usual schedule for checking results together.
The Breakfast Club Structure and Group Members
The Breakfast Club operated as a small, consistent lottery pool that met regularly, and the members included the mid-Michigan couple plus the west-side lawyer who handled legal matters for the group. This structure allowed them to share costs and potential winnings across multiple draws throughout the year, and the arrangement proved effective when the jackpot numbers aligned on the New Year’s Day ticket. The couple, described by Harder as middle-aged, received the primary public focus during the announcement, while the lawyer’s role remained advisory.
Decision to Accept the Lump Sum Payment
The group chose the cash lump sum of $305 million after taxes rather than the annuity option, and Michigan Lottery officials processed the claim according to standard procedures for large jackpots. Suzanna Shkreli noted that the winners completed all required documentation before the prize transfer, and the after-tax amount reflected federal and state withholdings applied at the time of the claim. The lump sum provided immediate access to the funds, whereas the annuity would have spread payments over decades.
Public Statements from Attorney Mark Harder
Mark Harder spoke on behalf of the club during the announcement and relayed the couple’s immediate reactions without revealing additional personal details. He stated that the winners felt elated and overwhelmed while also experiencing a mix of thrill and nervousness about the future. The attorney emphasized that the group planned to handle their affairs privately moving forward, and he confirmed that all members participated in the decision to claim the prize as a single entity.
Verification Process and Lottery Commission Involvement
Michigan Lottery staff followed established protocols to authenticate the ticket before releasing the winner information, and Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli oversaw the public portion of the claim. The process included security checks at the Grand Blanc Township store and confirmation that the ticket remained in the possession of the club members throughout the validation period. Official announcements from the Michigan Lottery outlined the prize amount and payment structure without disclosing further identities beyond the limited descriptions provided.
The announcement occurred after the standard waiting period required for large claims, and the group coordinated with lottery representatives to schedule the event. Observers note that similar large wins in Michigan have followed comparable timelines, and the Breakfast Club members adhered to those same guidelines.
Conclusion
The $842.4 million Powerball win by The Breakfast Club members marks one of the largest single-ticket prizes claimed in Michigan, and the group’s decision to take the $305 million lump sum finalized their claim with the lottery. The mid-Michigan couple and the west-side lawyer now hold the validated ticket, and their attorney conveyed their reactions during the official announcement. Michigan Lottery records document the purchase location and drawing date as part of the public claim process.