22-year-old grocery store bagger claims $70M jackpot from a lottery ticket he bought at work

Feb 28, 2020, 5:58 pm (12 comments)

Canada Lotto Max

MONTREAL — A 22-year-old grocery store employee just won the biggest jackpot in Quebec's history after he purchased a ticket from the store where he works.

Friday was a life-changing day for the lottery jackpot winner, 22-year-old Gregory Mathieu, as well as seven members of his family, who received a check for $70 million (US$52.3 million) from the Québec Lottery.

Smiling as blue and white confetti filled the air, they collected their prize Friday morning at Loto-Quebec's office in Quebec City.

Loto-Quebec identified the winners as Mathieu and family members Ursule Jolicoeur, Sandra Julien, Sonia Julien, Sylvie Julien, Denis Lessard, Derek Prevost, and Stephane Provost.

Mathieu, who worked at an IGA grocery store in Lévis, a suburb of Quebec City, held the winning ticket for the record draw this past Tuesday.

Mathieu validated the ticket after arriving at work Wednesday morning. He was crying and shaking, one of his co-workers said, adding that his father had to come pick him up because he wasn't in a state to drive home.

"When there was nobody at the register I told her, the cashier, to check the ticket and she checked it and I couldn't believe my eyes," he said. "And I still can't believe it."

Mathieu said the first call he made was to his family.

"I went to sit down because I couldn't talk or think. I called my mother and then I called my brother and then they came and joined me at the IGA and we went straight to my grandparents to take a breath."

The family has some plans for the jackpot already — such as travelling and buying new cars — but have yet to figure out they will do with their massive winnings.

"We are a very close-knit family and I am thrilled that we are able to experience this life-changing moment together," Mathieu's mother, Sandra Julien, said Friday.

Mathieu said the top of his wishlist is a new car: His is breaking down and currently under a pile of snow in the IGA parking lot because he was too excited to drive.

The IGA Extra, where he bought the ticket, will receive a $700,000 commission — one percent of the prize — for selling the winning ticket.

Mathieu won his fortune playing Canada's nationwide Lotto Max game. The winning numbers for the drawing on Tuesday, January 7, were 3, 8, 12, 14, 17, 18, and 29, with Bonus number 11.

The extravagant award is the biggest jackpot ever won in Quebec and comes during Loto-Quebec's 50th anniversary celebrations.

"Loto-Québec celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year," Corporate Director of Public Affairs at Loto-Québec Patrice Lavoie said. "We are thrilled to, at the same time, give our biggest jackpot yet."

Lavoie and other Loto-Québec officials gave Mathieu advice on what he should consider doing before sharing cash with others. "If you like your job, you don't need to retire yet," Lavoie will say. "And be careful what you post on social media."

That's good advice for grocery store workers and lotto winners alike.

This is the second time in less than two months that a $70 million jackpot was at stake. The last draw was won on Jan. 7 in Ontario.

During this last draw, eight additional $1 million prizes were also won in Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies and Atlantic Canada.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Wire reports, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

s5thomps's avatars5thomps

22 and set for LIFE! Glad he's sharing it with his family! Congrats young man!

Ranett's avatarRanett

Great job, don't let it overwhelm you.    Approve

jjtheprince14

Nice to see a young person win it for once.

reddog's avatarreddog

Grocery stores still have baggers ?? Big Smile

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

Ohhhh noooooo!!! He had his name published.......poor kid. Now he will be hunted down....and tickled with a feather!   Because as we know... Only ppl who win big jackpots have their lives put in peril by coming forth and having their name published. SMH.    I  met ppl from all walks of lives have things happen to them some good ...some not so good. 

Thank you Mr 22 yr old for having no delusion or paranoia. You've restored my faith....may you delight in your prosperity.  But watch those feathers ;)

noise-gate

l hope that this young man, being an adult is in control of his money. They look like one big happy family & everyone wants " new cars & traveling " but at the end of the day, it's his call how the money is to be used. 

I wish them the best, just don't want to read another Gary Coleman piece involving family & money, but that's reality.

Just saying..

music*'s avatarmusic*

  All birthday numbers and he was still the lone winner.

  I wonder what his future wife is saying about his generosity. Although he is not married yet.

  22 years old with 50 more years to live.  Maybe longer?

  This Monday the 2nd of March may be the best time to buy low in the Stock Market. Mutual Funds. Just like you look for deals at the grocery store, clothing store, now could be the time to invest. Buy Low. Sell High. 

  This winner needs excellent financial planning and advice. 

 

 Mathieu's sisters' names all start with the letter S and their second names begin with J.  His brothers' names begin with the letter D. I do not know where Ursule J. fits in.  Stephanie Provost is also an exception.

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Party Congrats to the Winner & Family! Party

It's not everyone that can say their Groceries were Bagged by a Multimillionaire!

EdG1955

Lottery winnings aren't taxed in Canada, so he's doubly lucky.  In the US, he couldn't include his family as winners after the win without paying gift tax on the amount over the exemption.

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by EdG1955 on Feb 29, 2020

Lottery winnings aren't taxed in Canada, so he's doubly lucky.  In the US, he couldn't include his family as winners after the win without paying gift tax on the amount over the exemption.

Your second sentence sounds true to me since you said 'after the win'.   The smart thing to do, if the state you play in does it (they all don't) is to have the state take care of the taxes prior to paying each individual.   I know KY, IN and CA do and wish they all did--called taking care of the consumer.   Home state of MA cuts one check.

grwurston's avatargrwurston

Quote: Originally posted by TheGameGrl on Feb 29, 2020

Ohhhh noooooo!!! He had his name published.......poor kid. Now he will be hunted down....and tickled with a feather!   Because as we know... Only ppl who win big jackpots have their lives put in peril by coming forth and having their name published. SMH.    I  met ppl from all walks of lives have things happen to them some good ...some not so good. 

Thank you Mr 22 yr old for having no delusion or paranoia. You've restored my faith....may you delight in your prosperity.  But watch those feathers ;)

He had no choice.

Do you have to take a picture if you win the lottery in Canada?

No privacy for lottery winners in Canada.

Provincial lottery corporations have rules that require winners to publicly disclose their identity and take part in lottery public relations activities, such as having their photo taken with an oversized cheque. May 23, 2018

Bleudog101

Makes me say 'he's got it all in the bag.'

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