Published on: May 21, 2026, 05:24h.
Updated on: May 21, 2026, 05:24h.
- Powerball Winner Attributes Win to Zoltar
- Zoltar Machine Provided Winning Numbers
- Zoltar Gained Fame from the Film “Big” Starring Tom Hanks
A Zoltar fortune-telling machine situated in Las Vegas, which foretold a man’s future nearly thirty years ago, has been validated.
Stephen Huesgen, a 56-year-old resident of Fraser, Michigan, recently won a $1 million Powerball prize from the April 22 drawing. His $2 ticket successfully matched the five white balls, which were 24, 29, 32, 49, and 63, though he did not match the red Powerball number, which was 11.
Huesgen shared with Michigan Lottery officials that he has been playing these five numbers for years, ever since a Zoltar fortune teller indicated they were lucky for him back in the 1990s.
“Around 30 years ago in Las Vegas, I received a fortune from a Zoltar machine. The fortune included a series of lucky numbers I’ve played in various lottery games ever since,” Huesgen stated.
Huesgen purchased his Powerball ticket through the Michigan Lottery’s online platform.
“The morning after the drawing, I received an email from the lottery, and that’s when I discovered I had won $1 million! I exclaimed to my wife, ‘Is this real?’ I don’t think the reality will sink in completely until I cash the check,” Huesgen said.
Huesgen plans to use the winnings to clear his mortgage, pay off car loans, enjoy a vacation, and save for retirement.
Major Win Inspired by ‘Big’
Zoltar gained popularity from the 1988 classic film “Big,” starring Tom Hanks. The machine in the movie was a fictional representation, likely inspired by the classic amusement machine Zoltan from the 1960s.
In “Big,” the 12-year-old character Josh Baskin wishes on a Zoltar machine to become “big” after being too short to ride a carnival attraction with his crush. The next day, he wakes up as a 30-year-old man, but with the mindset and experiences of his younger self.
The film was a commercial success, earning Hanks his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and solidifying his status as a leading box office star. As a result, Zoltar look-alikes became increasingly popular at fairs and carnivals nationwide.
In 2006, Olaf Stanton, founder of the animatronics and amusement company Characters Unlimited, discovered that the Zoltar branding had never been trademarked. His company based in Boulder City, Nevada, acquired the rights and has since produced “Zoltar Speaks” machines.
Winnings After Tax Deductions
It’s worth noting that Huesgen did not receive the full million dollars. His Powerball winnings were subjected to a federal tax rate of 37%. In Michigan, lottery winnings are classified as personal income, which means his $1 million win faced a 4.25% state tax.
Ultimately, Huesgen paid $370,000 in federal tax and $42,500 in state tax, resulting in a net income of $587,500.
If he had opted for the additional $1 Power Play, his pre-tax jackpot would have been $2 million.