Winning the lottery is a dream for many but imagine almost missing out on it. Thats precisely what happened to a Bribie Island man who nearly forgot to buy a ticketonly to win a jaw-dropping AU$60 million (?32.3 million) ! One Queensland resident is now a multi-millionaire after securing the only division one winning entry in Powerballs draw 1499, held on Thursday, 9 February 2025. His winnings? A staggering AU$60 million (?32.3 million)enough to change his life forever.
The numbers drawn that night were 20, 23, 34, 19, 24, 31, and 10, with Powerball number 14 sealing the deal. Had the lucky winner missed out on matching that Powerball number, his dream would have remained just thata dream.
The winner almost didnt buy a ticket. He had seen an email about the jackpot earlier that day but got distracted and nearly forgot. Luckily, something clicked in his mind, and he made the purchase just in time. That small action led to his life-changing fortune.
The lucky man was about to fall asleep when he received a call from an official at The Lott. His reaction was pure disbelief.
He exclaimed, Is that real? I cant stop laughing. Holy s**! Ive won AU$60 million?! Now my wife cant stop laughing too. Shes in shock.
He said, This is really strange but a few months back I had a vivid dream that I had gone into a lottery draw with a mate, and that our entry had won $40 million. Ever since then, our friend has bought a ticket when the draw is over AU$40 million.
The winner has been playing the same numbers for the past 10 to 15 years. Though he sometimes changes them up, he stuck with his usual selection on that fateful night, and it paid off big time.
Ive been playing these numbers for 10 or 15 years. Funnily enough, I dont always play them, sometimes I switch it up, but luckily, I used them tonight, he said.
Months before the win, the man had a dream in which he and a friend won AU$40 million (?21.5 million). Since then, his friend has always bought a ticket whenever the jackpot exceeded that amount. With AU$60 million in his bank account, he plans to treat his kids and friends, buy his mum a car, and enjoy a well-deserved celebration.
Man expressed, Ill be able to help a lot of people with this. Ive got kids I can help and plenty of friends doing it tough. My mum also used to have this vintage car that she loved to bits. She had to sell it one day and she cried all the way home. I think Im going to keep the tradition going by buying the same model again. Its something Ive always wanted to do. We might call one of our children tonight and ask what colour Chevy they want.
The Powerball jackpot wasnt the only big lottery win recently. Earlier in the same week, an Aussie woman scored AU$100 million (?53.8 million) in the Oz Lotto, marking the most extensive individual lottery win in that games history.
Thanks to The Lotts app, purchasing lottery tickets has never been easier. The story of the lucky winner highlights how digital platforms are changing the game, making participation in the lottery more convenient than ever.
Winning Powerball is no easy feat, with odds of 1 in 134 million for securing the jackpot. But as this winner proves, even the longest odds can be beaten with some luck. Winning such a massive amount can be overwhelming. The man admitted that excitement kept him, and his wife awake that night, unable to process their incredible luck.