Australian couple played the same numbers for 36 years
KYABRAM, Vic., Aus. — The overjoyed $10 million (US$10.5 million) winners of Thursday night's Australian Powerball game don't want to be named, but said they had been struggling to make ends meet on one income for years.
"It will be life-changing," they said.
They plan to use some of the money to secure their financial future and some to help out their family and friends.
The couple played the same numbers for 36 years across a variety of lotto games.
Australia's Powerball game is different than the United States' multi-state Powerball game, but is played in the same manner. Players select five numbers from a pool of 45, and one Powerball number from a separate pool of 45.
Australia Powerball pays all jackpot prizes as lump-sum cash, and no taxes are withheld from the prize.
Just before the lucky couple got the news from a Tatts Lotteries official, they had a call from a relative asking if they knew who the unknown winner from Kyabram was.
"We didn't know who it was, or course, but we said we hoped it was someone in need of a windfall," they said.
They were just about to head down to the outlet which sold them the ticket, K and K Toys, when they got the call.
Outlet owner Kevin Bell said his shop had been unusually busy this morning with people coming in hoping that they had been the unknown winner.
"A few people have been joking this morning that they'll be looking out for someone driving a new car. But I think if I won that sort of money I'd be keeping it quiet too," Mr Bell said.
K and K Toys has previously sold 22 first division winners, but the biggest amount won until now had been $3.3m.
Congratulations to the lucky Aussie couple. It's a very nice story and good to read it this morning. Beats all the negative "news" out there.
Congrats to the lucky winners.
Congrats to the couple.
Congratulations to this couple! I pray them the best moving forward!
Congrats to the family!
I wish all the best to them!
They have gone green! The best way!
Congratulations to the lucky winners!
I think this Australian couple should retire and not play anymore lotto games.
The couple played the same numbers for 36 years across a variety of lotto games.
Wow, now that's what I call persistence......
Hope they get to really enjoy their windfall without too many headaches
So ... what were the numbers?
Congrats to the winners......
That'll buy a lotta wallaby burgers!
"The couple played the same numbers for 36 years across a variety of lotto games."
I do the same thing but I hope it doesn't take me 36 dadgum years to win the big one.
I could be almost as old as tiggs by then.
And people don't look very good at that age.
Hell, tiggs looks like the north end of a mule goin' south.
44 28 14 21 27 pb 43 but don't expect them to appear over here
Maybe not Powerball but they could come up in Mega Millions.
Nice! Happy for them