Woman wins $40M, not $40K, sparking wild celebrations

Apr 10, 2013, 7:35 pm (72 comments)

Canada Lotto Max

Includes video report

Let's pretend you just won $40 million. Do you sprint up and down the street "like a crazy woman"? Break into a "happy dance," while holding your oversized lottery check? Celebrate by chowing down at a Chinese buffet with your family?

If you're Maria Carreiro, the answer is all of the above — and then some.

The 51-year-old grandmother couldn't contain her excitement, when she talked to, sang to and danced for reporters on Monday after her big, big win.

"Thank you Lord, thank you Lord!" sang the ebullient, dancing Carreiro.

The Portuguese immigrant bought the ticket last Friday at Variety and Video, a store in Toronto, according to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. It was a bit of a splurge, because she didn't "have a lot of spending money," but it was one that would change her life forever.

After an initial check on Saturday morning, she excitedly told her daughter that she had won $40,000.

"Then ... she checked on the computer," Carreiro recalled. "She said, 'Mommy, you're $40 million richer.' "

What followed was pure joy.

"So I ran down the street like a crazy woman and checked the lottery ticket, and it said $40 million," she said of the winning ticket, which works out to about $39.4 million U.S. dollars.

"And then I go, 'Oh my god!' And I ran back up the street, home. And then I go, 'I need a glass of water,' " added an ever-smiling Carreiro, stirring laughter from the press corps.

For years, she worked in factories. Beyond that, many of her days have been spent caring for her children and grandchildren.

Now, the time has come to take care of all of them and herself.

That includes the honeymoon she never had, in Hawaii, with her husband, who at first didn't believe they'd struck it rich but has since quit his job. Carreiro said she also plans on using the money to buy a house "for my daughters and me." (But first, she said, the family enjoyed an all-you-can-eat meal at a Chinese restaurant.)

While there's no hiding their joy, her family is still coming to grips with their new, much richer reality — after years of hard work, sacrifice and doing what they could to get by.

"It still hasn't sunk in," said Carreiro's daughter Manuela, her eyes welling with tears. "My dad works so hard, and we've been struggling so much ... $40 million is so much money."

VIDEO: Carreiro at her press conference

Thanks to Ronnie316 for the tip.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Lucky4Life's avatarLucky4Life

Yeah i saw that interview too.  Talking about buying houses and cars for her kids already *sigh*

VenomV12

Sooooo, 5 years, 3 years until this one is completely broke?

Why is it idiots like this half the time that end up winning? sigh...PukeWhat?

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

In New Jersey they would throw the ticket away LOL

Original Bey's avatarOriginal Bey

The gods have a sense of humor!

Lucky4Life's avatarLucky4Life

Quote: Originally posted by VenomV12 on Apr 10, 2013

Sooooo, 5 years, 3 years until this one is completely broke?

Why is it idiots like this half the time that end up winning? sigh...PukeWhat?

it's got to be, what? less than 20 million after taxes? I say 2-1/2 years

Original Bey's avatarOriginal Bey

Quote: Originally posted by Lucky4Life on Apr 10, 2013

it's got to be, what? less than 20 million after taxes? I say 2-1/2 years

In Canada 40m is 40m!

SLOYAROLE

I don't think the Canadian government or the Queen (I don't know how Canada works) taxes lottery winnings. She keeps the full $40m. Anyways, good for her. That's why people play... to win.

Lucky4Life's avatarLucky4Life

Quote: Originally posted by Original Bey on Apr 10, 2013

In Canada 40m is 40m!

ok 5 years tops then.

Original Bey's avatarOriginal Bey

Quote: Originally posted by Lucky4Life on Apr 10, 2013

ok 5 years tops then.

She can always open a dance studio once she blows through the cash.

DamGod

Quote: Originally posted by VenomV12 on Apr 10, 2013

Sooooo, 5 years, 3 years until this one is completely broke?

Why is it idiots like this half the time that end up winning? sigh...PukeWhat?

as you can see, nature only favours the idiots and not the smart ones. Even if she go broke in 2 years , at least she will gain the experience and enjoyment of spending 40 million dollars, something most people die only dreaming about.....

whiteballz's avatarwhiteballz

do you have to show up to the press conference in Canada? If they forced me to go, I'd wear a ski mask.

Lucky4Life's avatarLucky4Life

Quote: Originally posted by DamGod on Apr 10, 2013

as you can see, nature only favours the idiots and not the smart ones. Even if she go broke in 2 years , at least she will gain the experience and enjoyment of spending 40 million dollars, something most people die only dreaming about.....

"The Meek shall inheret the Earth"

Sad Cheers

VenomV12

Quote: Originally posted by whiteballz on Apr 10, 2013

do you have to show up to the press conference in Canada? If they forced me to go, I'd wear a ski mask.

LMAO, I wonder if you could do that? I mean technically you did come. Banana

larry3100's avatarlarry3100

Congratulations Maria. No taxes on that $40 million, in Canada. Now, I'll give Maria 5 to 7 years that she will go broke. A house for all family members and friends too. Cash loans to her friends that never will be paid back, and so on. Maria after she goes broke. Crying

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