New Zealand man who lost his job during lockdown wins $10 million Lotto jackpot

May 25, 2020, 9:32 am (13 comments)

International

Just weeks after losing his job, a Hamilton, New Zealand, man surprised his wife with a staggering $10.3 million (US$6.3 million) Lotto win.

The big winner, who is anonymous like most winners in New Zealand choose to be, was one of the thousands of Kiwis made redundant over the nearly two-month lockdown period. His wife is a healthcare worker has worked through the lockdown.

When she came home from work in a quick lunch break, she found him sitting at the kitchen table, "acting strange".

"There was an envelope waiting for me in my spot... it was a bit awkward," she said.

"He told me to open the envelope — inside was a newspaper clipping of an article saying someone from Hamilton had won $10.3 million.

"I said, 'why are you showing me this?' He replied with, 'it's us, we are the winners.' I thought he was joking."

In disbelief, her husband had to show her their winning ticket on his phone before she could believe him, she said.

"I'll never forget that moment — it felt too good to be true. It was very emotional."

The couple, still coming to terms with the life-changing win, didn't want to be named.

Her husband said the win couldn't have come at a better time for them.

"I lost my job at the beginning of the lockdown, so we've been really worried about our future, particularly the impact it would have on our retirement, and our children's education."

Initially thinking an email he received from MyLotto Customer Support, was spam, he was gobsmacked to find himself a multi-millionaire.

"My wife was at work, so I asked someone else in our bubble to check it for me to make sure I wasn't seeing things," he said.

"They confirmed: 'Yep, that definitely says you've won $10 million.'"

He began to plan how to surprise his wife — due home for lunch — with the bombshell news.

"I wasn't sure how she would react — I cut out the article and popped it in an envelope for her. It was nerve-wracking watching her open it," he said.

A night of celebration with bubbles followed, as they planned how to spend their millions — with repairing an old car, paying off their mortgage and supporting their child's university education.

A central focus for the pair is that they use their money to help others in need, vowing to remain as "normal" as possible.

"We feel incredibly lucky and want to set ourselves up for the future, but also look at how we can help others," she said.

"We're still in shock, these types of things don't happen to people like us."

Thanks to dannyct for the tip.

Newstalk ZB

Comments

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Party Congrats to the Anonymous Winner! Party

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Cheerscongrats to the mystery couple and thar family Cheers

 

may the years ahead bring them much joy

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Fantastic story and win................... Congrats Mr & Mrs Anonymous

Bleudog101

Oh my favorite type of feel good story...a big anonymous lottery win.

So happy for them!

Does NZ allow for tax free winnings?

music*'s avatarmusic*

"gobsmaked"  completely dumbfounded, flabbergasted.

  This couple is smart while being generous. They will not give it all away.

 I guess this gifting is expected from winners of large jackpots.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

NICE!

dannyct

In New Zealand, all lottery prize money is tax-free. Also, by law, all winners have the right to remain anonymous, the vast majority do so.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by dannyct on May 25, 2020

In New Zealand, all lottery prize money is tax-free. Also, by law, all winners have the right to remain anonymous, the vast majority do so.

Come on Danny, tell us it's you, you sly dog.Cheers The forum CAN keep a secret.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Skepticalthars only 3-4 people here that I believe actually could keep such a secret, as for the rest .......

Stack47

Every time someone or some article mentions "anonymous winner" we get to read about countries with national lotteries that are tax free. I guess it's really difficult for them to understand the U.S. has no national lottery and why Federal taxes are deducted. Even after many posts explaining that.

The only thing relevant not paying taxes is some states have no state taxes and some with a state tax don't tax lottery winnings. We'll cross the "no Federal taxes" on lottery winnings if we ever get a National lottery. 

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by hearsetrax on May 25, 2020

Skepticalthars only 3-4 people here that I believe actually could keep such a secret, as for the rest .......

Yeah, l know, I Agree! cause l am one of the 3. The ONLY sign l will give long after l am gone:  is this...

Drowning in Waste - Case The Seychelles - Woima Corporation

db101's avatardb101

Quote: Originally posted by hearsetrax on May 25, 2020

Skepticalthars only 3-4 people here that I believe actually could keep such a secret, as for the rest .......

The only 3 I'd trust are Me, Myself, and I.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by db101 on May 27, 2020

The only 3 I'd trust are Me, Myself, and I.

Yeah.... but that don't work so good, IF you have a split personality. ME keeping my secret, but " MYSELF & l " running off at the mouth. Not good.

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