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Giveaway #45 Winner Profile:

Michelangelo R. and the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 with a Family Vacation and $10,000

Michelangelo R. had followed 717 Supply Founder Mike Hyssong for a long time and watched plenty of giveaways come and go. The Chicago resident had even entered several himself. But he hadn’t seriously pictured himself getting the winner call. That changed with Giveaway #45.

Michelangelo won a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71, along with a family vacation and $10,000 in cash. Even then, believing it took some time. “It’s unreal to be here,” he said after arriving at 717 Supply’s headquarters. “Like I didn’t believe it for a moment, and then the excitement died down, then it came back.”

Michelangelo had previously entered 717 Supply giveaways featuring a Ford Raptor and dual Corvettes, among others. For the Tahoe giveaway, he bought two entry packs and spent about $75. “I always see these giveaways, and I never thought that I would win anything,” he said. “So one day I just said I’d give it a shot.”

Once he won, Michelangelo didn’t immediately spread the news. He waited until a few days before his trip to Pennsylvania to tell his family, and some weren’t convinced even then. His brother finally had to drop him off at the airport, while his mom wondered whether he might be getting scammed.

For Michelangelo, the paperwork helped make the win feel legitimate. Getting on the plane made it more real. But it wasn’t until he was standing at 717 Supply, seeing the Tahoe for himself, that everything fully sank in. “For real, dude. I’m shaking,” he said while taking his first look around the SUV.

The Tahoe also marks a change of pace for Michelangelo. He’s owned pickup trucks before, but the Z71 will be his first modified vehicle. He quickly noticed details like the Cypress Gray paint, blacked-out trim, updated interior, and rear entertainment screens as he walked around his new ride.

There was no debate about whether it would be going home with him. Michelangelo planned to keep the Tahoe and was ready to get acquainted with it right away. Instead of shipping it back to Illinois, he planned to make the roughly 10-hour drive home from Pennsylvania.

He still has another big decision to make. The prize included a family vacation, and Michelangelo had narrowed the possibilities to two very different destinations. Mexico would let his parents visit family, while Japan was also high on the list. At the time of the pickup, he hadn’t made the final call.

After going from someone who never expected to win to someone driving home in a new Tahoe, Michelangelo offered simple advice to others who might feel the same way. “When you see something, and you don’t believe it until it actually happens, it’s crazy,” he said. “I say if you’re still entering, keep at it because I’ve entered many and you’re not gonna expect it.”

His final takeaway was even shorter: “I think the right word would be persistent.”

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About the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71

Michelangelo’s 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 combines Chevrolet’s factory off-road equipment with several changes made by 717 Supply. This particular Tahoe also has the available 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8, rated at 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Chevrolet pairs the engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The Z71 starts with four-wheel drive and an Autotrac two-speed transfer case. Other trim-specific equipment includes an aluminum front skid plate, red recovery hooks, black tubular assist steps, and a front fascia designed to improve the approach angle. This Tahoe also has Magnetic Ride Control and the Four-Corner Air Ride Adaptive Suspension that can raise or lower the vehicle depending on driving conditions.

717 Supply added a lift kit while keeping the factory air suspension, then fitted Fuel wheels and Toyo Open Country all-terrain tires. The exterior received what the team calls a “tuxedo wrap,” which blacks out the roof and pillars. Blacked-out badging and tinted front windows continue the sporty theme.

Inside, the 2025 refresh brought Chevrolet’s updated dashboard and larger center display. Michelangelo’s Tahoe has leather seating, a panoramic sunroof, power-folding second- and third-row seats, all-weather floor liners, and a second-row entertainment system with individual screens and HDMI connections. Those features give him three rows of passenger space for everyday use and should also come in handy once he decides where to take the family on the vacation that came with his win.