$14M lottery winner promises big tip

Jan 29, 2009, 10:00 am (14 comments)

Canada 6/49

TORONTO — For a guy who just won $14.8 million, you'd think Jorma Hogbacka would be a little more excited.

But standing in front of reporters yesterday at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation's prize office, Hogbacka said he wasn't surprised because it was in the stars.

"Four years ago, (a psychic) sent me a letter that said 'You'll be rich beyond your wildest dream'," he said. "It feels like another day, except I have a big check."

A semi-retired welder, Hogbacka, 60, of St. Catharines, was one of three winners of Saturday's 6/49 $44.4 million prize — the third largest jackpot in Canadian history. Two other $14.8 million tickets purchased in the GTA have not yet been claimed.

Hogbacka, a lotto player for 25 years, said he's going to give $30,000 to five female ex-employees of Tim Horton's from his hometown, just for getting his coffee orders right.

"I promised them, but do you think they believed me?" he said.

Hogbacka said he's going to take some time to travel and maybe spend a bit on a new car. He also plans on helping out his two sisters in Parry Sound and Huntsville.

Hogback's brother-in-law, Jarma Kokko, 58, said he got a call from him yesterday telling him about the win and that he needed a ride to Toronto.

"He's been saying this for 20 years — that he's going to win one day — and it happened."

Jorma Hogbacka, 60, shows off his happy dance at OLG headquarters yesterday.
Jorma Hogbacka, 60, shows off his happy dance at OLG headquarters yesterday.

Thanks for ThatScaryChick for the tip.

Toronto Sun

Comments

beaudad's avatarbeaudad

any guy that would give someone at tim horton's a tip...........I am just like him..........when they get my order right at Horton's, McDonalds, Burger King........yep I feel like doing the happy dance too!!!!!!!!!.....beaudad.......

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

That's very generous of him to give those employees a tip. I bet they weren't expecting that.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Hogbacka, a lotto player for 25 years, said he's going to give $30,000 to five female ex-employees of Tim Horton's from his hometown, just for getting his coffee orders right.

If he's still getting his coffee at Tim Horton's, I wonder if the present female employees are expecting anything.

myturn's avatarmyturn

I'm happy for him, and I hope he doesn't squander it away. I wonder why he went public, are Canadian lottery winners required to accept publicity? In Australia and the UK, other Commonwealth countries, winners are allowed to remain anonymous and the the vast majority do.

time*treat's avatartime*treat

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jan 29, 2009

Hogbacka, a lotto player for 25 years, said he's going to give $30,000 to five female ex-employees of Tim Horton's from his hometown, just for getting his coffee orders right.

If he's still getting his coffee at Tim Horton's, I wonder if the present female employees are expecting anything.

No doubt, tips that exceed the cost of the coffee.

Any guesses on how long it takes for female ex-employee #6 to show up? Roll Eyes

tg636

I like this quote.

"It feels like another day, except I have a big check."

I hope to repeat it someday.

myturn's avatarmyturn

I read this on the Sun, the joys of publicity!

Discretion is the better part of valor, Jorma 

 

 

The Garden City resident, a single 60-year-old semi-retired welder, vowed Monday to keep a promise made long ago to give $30,000 each to the fab five, whom he hadn't seen in a few years.

Trouble is, there's more than five potential Jorma "girls" out there.

There's a least a baker's dozen of current and former employees who think they might be one of the lucky ones.  Who should be shown the money is nowhere near as clear-cut as a Timmy's biscuit.

myturn's avatarmyturn

The story doesn't mention taxes, are Canadians taxed on lottery winnings?

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Quote: Originally posted by myturn on Jan 30, 2009

The story doesn't mention taxes, are Canadians taxed on lottery winnings?

Nope. Canadians get the full amount tax-free.

OldSchoolPa's avatarOldSchoolPa

Quote: Originally posted by ThatScaryChick on Jan 30, 2009

Nope. Canadians get the full amount tax-free.

That's because Canada rapes every working stiff up there through the income taxes...hey, health care for all comes at a price.  So if I was a lucky Canadian stiff who won the Canada lottery, I would collect my winnings and move south (not because of taxes but just to get away from all that cold and snowy weather).

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Quote: Originally posted by tg636 on Jan 29, 2009

I like this quote.

"It feels like another day, except I have a big check."

I hope to repeat it someday.

Same here!  Smiley   Even something like "I'm still a miserable old hag, but I'm a rich & miserable old hag!"  LOL

grengrad's avatargrengrad

Seems like a nice guy, I just hope he doesn't pull a Jack with his money.

Giving the tips away is one thing. Announcing it to the public and alerting every shark of your generousity... is another.

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Quote: Originally posted by justxploring on Jan 30, 2009

Same here!  Smiley   Even something like "I'm still a miserable old hag, but I'm a rich & miserable old hag!"  LOL

It's like that that saying: "I'd rather be rich and unhappy then poor and unhappy." or something like that.

DC81's avatarDC81

Quote: Originally posted by ThatScaryChick on Feb 10, 2009

It's like that that saying: "I'd rather be rich and unhappy then poor and unhappy." or something like that.

Big Grin I've used that or something similar a few times myself and to me it's completely true.

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