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.
Yeah i saw that interview too. Talking about buying houses and cars for her kids already *sigh*
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...
In New Jersey they would throw the ticket away LOL
The gods have a sense of humor!
it's got to be, what? less than 20 million after taxes? I say 2-1/2 years
In Canada 40m is 40m!
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.
ok 5 years tops then.
She can always open a dance studio once she blows through the cash.
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.....
do you have to show up to the press conference in Canada? If they forced me to go, I'd wear a ski mask.
"The Meek shall inheret the Earth"
LMAO, I wonder if you could do that? I mean technically you did come.
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.
It seems haters cannot help themselves. Its amazing
Congratulation Ms. Carreiro
Nice job Maria, congrats and enjoy.
Congratulations Mrs.Carreiro.I think you'll do just fine with your new found wealth!
CONGRATS MARIA!!!!!
Wait...wtf..? Did I hear the reporter say she did a QP an the QP was somehow the exact numbers she usualy plays?? Uhh...its like you won the lottery twice. Why is that not big news? If I heard correctly... I'm dozing off from tired though
She's gonna need new shoes first.
This sounds too good to be true!!!! She played the lottery with the same numbers for 20 years. Then, out of the blue, Maria buys a quick pick, and those number randomly chosen turn out to be the exact same numbers she played all these years. And, this time she wins the BIG JACKPOT!!! The chances of something like this happening must be astronomical!!!! It's like FATE or GOD or LUCK intervened.
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is somebody pulling my leg?????
No tax! Wouldn't that be nice!
No TAXES!!!! How AWESOME is that? When it comes to the lottery, you should be able keep the entire jackpot. I wonder if the $40 million is in cash or is there an annuity? Will she have to lose about half to get the cash lump sum now?
im calling BS on that. if true the lady of luck has some special plans for this family.
she had luck, lets hope they have the wisdom. a mill each for the kids and grand kids should still leave maybe 30 ish mill, say 25mill. after kids have blown that mill tell em to get a job.
smart money sez she'll be broke inside of three years and be on the canadian version of the curse of the lottery
No annuity either. One big check/wire transfer in about 5 weeks.