A fortunate individual from Adelaide has claimed an astounding $150 million Powerball jackpot, making history as Australia’s largest solo lottery winner.
The middle-aged winner reached out to lottery officials early on Friday, admitting he had been too excited to sleep, repeatedly checking his ticket throughout the night.
“I’ve never screamed so loud or jumped so high!” he exclaimed to The Lott, the Powerball operator. “This is truly life-changing. I can’t stop smiling and pinching myself.”
Since the winning ticket wasn’t linked to any card or online account, the winner’s identity remained a mystery until he stepped forward. Despite his newfound wealth, the man chose to maintain his normal routine and went to work on Friday.
“I know it may sound crazy, but I’m going to continue working,” he said. “I’ll buy a house, travel the world, and support my family and friends. But for now, it’s hard to grasp the enormity of this prize. I can’t believe my luck!”
The jackpot soared to $150 million on Thursday night after the previous $100 million draw yielded no division one winners, marking the sixth consecutive week without a top prize winner.
This $150 million prize ranks as the third-largest in Australian lottery history, surpassed only by a $200 million Powerball jackpot shared by two winners in February and a $160 million prize split among three winners in 2022.
The odds of winning the division-one prize with a single entry are staggering—over 134 million to one, roughly equivalent to being struck by lightning twice in a lifetime.
