A Tasmanian man has woken up $70 million richer after discovering his online Oz Lotto ticket had claimed the entire jackpot – the second-biggest individual prize in the game’s 31-year history.
The stunned winner said he barely slept a wink after Tuesday night’s draw, repeatedly checking his account in disbelief.
“I have hardly slept all night. I was wondering if I was dreaming and I was going to wake up and someone was going to say, it was all just a dream,” he told lottery staff who called to confirm his windfall.
Even after checking his account more than 15 times since 11pm Tuesday, he still showed up for work this morning despite the freezing weather.
Reality finally hit when he received official confirmation while working in minus-one-degree temperatures.
“I don’t have to come to work anymore … I might just go and hand my resignation in right now,” the winner said.
His 18-game ticket was the only Division 1 winner in draw 1633. The winning numbers were 44, 34, 45, 1, 46, 25 and 21, with supplementary numbers 9, 14 and 16.
The prize, he said, comes after a difficult few years.
“I am just getting back on my feet and I still have a mortgage when everyone else [my age] is about to retire. I have been saying I will have to work until I am 70, but not now,” he said.
He plans to retire immediately, buy a dream home with his partner and help out family. “This is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant,” he said.
Thursday’s Powerball offers a $50 million prize.
