Mom wins largest individual Powerball in Australian lottery history

Jan 19, 2019, 11:36 am (14 comments)

International

AUSTRALIA — A mom from Sydney won Australia's biggest individual prize in history on Thursday, cashing out with more than AU$107 million (US$76.7 million).

The Lott, Australia's official lotteries website, said in a statement that the 40-something winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, wasn't sure what was going on when officials called to tell her the big news. In fact, the winner initially thought she had won $107,000.

"Oh my god, $107,000! That's amazing!"

Then came the news that her winning were a whole lot more than that.

"I don't understand — is this actually real? Wait — are you telling me I've won $107 million?! Oh my god! That is just so much money!" the statement reports she said.

The mother, who works in health care, said she doesn't plan to retire, but instead will "do more health work for causes important" to her. She also said she will share her winnings with her family.

When asked how she planned to spend her mind-blowing windfall the hard-working winner revealed her beloved family was at the top of her mind.

"I'm a healthcare professional but I won't be retiring! I'm so passionate about my job. It will drive me to do more health work for causes important to me," she declared.

"I'll be sharing it with my family. I thought of my family when I purchased the ticket! I'm not quite sure what to do but of course I will be helping my family."

She also said she'll be spreading the wealth to those in need, as well as taking some vacations.

"I'll be giving my favorite charity some money! They'll get a whole slab of money!"

"All the win gives me is the chance to go and do the things I've always want to do. We might buy a caravan and travel around too."

The winner recounted how she came to hold the division one winning entry.

"It was so random, I just decided to log-on yesterday and buy a ticket with random numbers," she revealed.

The Lott confirmed the winning ticket was bought online, and the winner said she picked the winning numbers of 20, 18, 33, 22, 11, 26 and 4, plus the Powerball number 9, randomly.

"I'm not sure how I will be able to sleep tonight, but for now I'm going to go have a cheap glass of chardonnay."

Australia's Powerball is modeled after the US version, but players can win by matching a little as one number.

The Lott said a total of 3,856,275 prizes worth more than AU$68.4 million were also won in the drawing, including two winning entries that each took home a prize of AU$94,792.90.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

Congrats to the 40-something years old woman. Party

I wonder how many of those lower tier winners don't cash in their tickets like in American lotteries.

sweetie7398's avatarsweetie7398

CongratsParty

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

Love that she is focused to continue to use her gift of medical care. Few folks realize that somethings money can't buy...and the gift of nursing/medicine are something that is invaluable. May she continue to be an asset to her community! 

Glad she'll travel too...that's sensible as well :)

benjibanks's avatarbenjibanks

And all that money is tax free.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by TheGameGrl on Jan 19, 2019

Love that she is focused to continue to use her gift of medical care. Few folks realize that somethings money can't buy...and the gift of nursing/medicine are something that is invaluable. May she continue to be an asset to her community! 

Glad she'll travel too...that's sensible as well :)

I Agree! If it is possible to continue working do so. It is good for the whole body. 

 When she plans on traveling the Australian Outback she better learn about all the wild and poisonous creatures there. Otherwise stay with the cities and city life.

 She is always welcome to visit America! With her plastic Australian dollars LOL.

Lurking

noise-gate

Continue to work- Yeah, on your retirement. It's no different than quitting the workforce * working for someone else, but * working on your investments etc etc. It's a 24/7 job, don't let anyone think different.

All to often we read of sports figures going after their managers for " mishandling their finances"- l say, what were you doing, not keeping your eye on the ball? You don't retire to become lazy, to become known as an imbecile.

The other thing about " receiving a phone call from the lottery" that's much. What else do they have, your address, your children's names?

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jan 19, 2019

Continue to work- Yeah, on your retirement. It's no different than quitting the workforce * working for someone else, but * working on your investments etc etc. It's a 24/7 job, don't let anyone think different.

All to often we read of sports figures going after their managers for " mishandling their finances"- l say, what were you doing, not keeping your eye on the ball? You don't retire to become lazy, to become known as an imbecile.

The other thing about " receiving a phone call from the lottery" that's much. What else do they have, your address, your children's names?

Sports players have a rough life from their beginning. Growing up poor motivates most to achieve as an athlete. The College Coaches must force the players to earn degrees. 

 As a Pro, the players may be intimidated by all the financial knowledge that a money manager seems to have. They get taken advantage of financially speaking. 

 The Australians appear to be happy with the Lottery System they have. We could learn things from them like NO TAX on winnings. 

 As a winner, I would interview a number of investment firms. See which ones answer my questions thoughtfully. These firms have employees who specialize in mutual funds. I do not have the time or interest to do what they do every working day. They will earn their pay from me.

Dance

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Jan 19, 2019

Sports players have a rough life from their beginning. Growing up poor motivates most to achieve as an athlete. The College Coaches must force the players to earn degrees. 

 As a Pro, the players may be intimidated by all the financial knowledge that a money manager seems to have. They get taken advantage of financially speaking. 

 The Australians appear to be happy with the Lottery System they have. We could learn things from them like NO TAX on winnings. 

 As a winner, I would interview a number of investment firms. See which ones answer my questions thoughtfully. These firms have employees who specialize in mutual funds. I do not have the time or interest to do what they do every working day. They will earn their pay from me.

Dance

When you state " Sport players have a rough life..growing up poor" you painting with a wide brush Music, in other words, you generalizing.

Not all grow up poor, and most, if not all have seen or heard of athletes that have gone before, some who have made missteps along the way when it cames to their finances. But that is when " if they wise enough" to change course. You don't steer your financial ship towards an iceberg or a reef & feel that it is in your best interest to shipwreck your nest egg, simply because you want to " experience the effect."

Having 3 mansions, 10 cars, a helicopter* that's a stretch, l know, but these are things that many have acquired while spiralling downward toward bankruptcy. Who in their right mind wants to go through that, when there are history lessons on folk who have done just that, and now go around the country telling their tales at seminars?

benjibanks's avatarbenjibanks

The conversation about athletes reminds me of Tim Duncan who was swindled out of 25 million by a crooked financial adviser.  Duncan grew up in a middle class family, he was a good student and has a low key vibe.  He just trusted the wrong person and gave up too much control over his finances.  This seems like a common problem for entertainers.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by benjibanks on Jan 19, 2019

The conversation about athletes reminds me of Tim Duncan who was swindled out of 25 million by a crooked financial adviser.  Duncan grew up in a middle class family, he was a good student and has a low key vibe.  He just trusted the wrong person and gave up too much control over his finances.  This seems like a common problem for entertainers.

benjibanks, This is a common problem with lottery winners. American History is full of past winners who were scammed out of the winnings. Including the 21st, 20th, and 19th Centuries.

Unhappy

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

Good for the winner. 

Some people here are still in a dither about the South Carolina winner not coming forward yet, even though SC is an anonymous state.

Since Australia allows winners to be anonymous I'm guessing that won't be the case there. 

Anonymous and no taxes, way to go Australia.

kao1632

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jan 19, 2019

Continue to work- Yeah, on your retirement. It's no different than quitting the workforce * working for someone else, but * working on your investments etc etc. It's a 24/7 job, don't let anyone think different.

All to often we read of sports figures going after their managers for " mishandling their finances"- l say, what were you doing, not keeping your eye on the ball? You don't retire to become lazy, to become known as an imbecile.

The other thing about " receiving a phone call from the lottery" that's much. What else do they have, your address, your children's names?

She bought her ticket online. That means she filled out "forms".. For a start.. They will have her name and method of payment details (credit card?), And contact details (email, phone number (might be optional).

That is why the lottery people were able to call her..

 

A regular over the counter purchase, and no one knows who won until they front up with the ticket.

Litebets27's avatarLitebets27

Congrats Aussie Powerball winner.

I love that their Powerball pays out on one winning number.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by kao1632 on Jan 20, 2019

She bought her ticket online. That means she filled out "forms".. For a start.. They will have her name and method of payment details (credit card?), And contact details (email, phone number (might be optional).

That is why the lottery people were able to call her..

 

A regular over the counter purchase, and no one knows who won until they front up with the ticket.

Kao1632- Mea Culpa.l clean forgot that the option exists to play the lottery online Down Under. The State l live in does not allow that. I was in error, l repent.Big Smile

End of comments
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