Remember the accidental lottery winner from California? Turns out getting big wins without realising it isn’t limited to the States – just ask two lucky Victorians who knew they’d scored some cash, but didn’t know just how much.
The first – a man living in Tullamarine – scored the Oz Lotto division one prize of $20,034,283.20 after having the only winning Division One ticket, and told the official who called him to deliver the good news that he’d had a very good night’s sleep.
“I counted all the numbers and realised I’d won. I thought, ‘Is this true!? No way!’ But I thought I’d won one million dollars, not 20 million dollars! I assumed multiple people won the prize, not just me! I never thought I’d become an overnight multi-millionaire. It’s so much money! This is very overwhelming,” he said.
Not quite as big – but still a very lucky break – was the prize that went to a Deer Park woman who thought she’d only won $750 on an instant Scratchie.
“I went straight to the newsagency to claim the prize and the team member said I’d won over $4,000, and I had to go to the head office to claim it. I didn’t see the extra letters come up, and I was so confused! I thought maybe I’d won $10,000.
“When I went to The Lott head office, they told me I’d won $100,000. I thought, ‘Is this a dream? Is this serious?’” she said.
While the winner from Deer Park hasn’t made any plans for her $100,000 yet, the Tullamarine winner plans to buy a house, help his family, and travel around the country.
Now we just have to check if we’re related to him…
