HOLLAND, MI. (CNN) – A Michigan man just became a millionaire after he won a contest organized by Elon Musk’s political PAC.
“My wife just a few weeks ago had said, ‘What would you do if you won a bunch of money?’”
At home in Holland, watching some Thursday night football was the usual for Jason Cochran – until it wasn’t.
“They just said, you know, congratulations.”
Visitors showed up and handed Cochran a massive mock check for $1 million.
“It’s hard to believe still,” Cochran said.
He facetimed his wife and kids, so they could watch the surreal moment go down.
“She said she could hear in my voice, just shaking, that she knew something big had happened,” Cochran said.
But was there a catch?
“Didn’t say I had to vote for, didn’t have to vote period. Didn’t have to vote for anyone,” Cochran said.
It all just happened because he signed a petition.
“Pretty amazing to come into that just for doing something I would have done anyways,” Cochran said.
Elon Musk’s America PAC is giving out $1 million each day between October 22 and November 5. Musk is offering the money to people within battleground states who sign in support of our First and Second Amendments.
“Not always super outspoken, but I’ve definitely always stood up for what I believe in,” Cochran said.
And he’s going to spend the money on what he believes in. Cochran’s family, along with another from West Michigan, started Route — a Christian trade school program for home-schooled students.
“That’s one of the great things about coming into money is knowing you can help other people,” Cochran said. “Trades are super important, and there wasn’t a great way to get a lot more kids into that.”
So what about a new yacht? Beach home? Lamborghini?
It’s none of the above for Cochran.
“It’s peace of mind right now, no plans to go out and buy anything,” he said.
Cochran is the first person from Michigan to receive one of the million-dollar prizes.
The win comes after the Justice Department warned this week the sweepstakes might violate federal election laws against paying for voter registrations.
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