Trip to Stock Up Fridge Results in $3.5m Win

Media Release
17 February 2010

Trip to Stock Up Beer Fridge Results in $3.5 Million Win

A weekend trip to the shop to stock up on a few beers for the beer fridge resulted in a $3.5 million Powerball win for an Auckland man.

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, bought his Lotto ticket on impulse after buying some beers. He then checked his ticket on Valentine’s Day and found out that he was a big winner.

“It was an amazing feeling, I buy Lotto nearly every week with the dream of being a big winner, so when it happened I just went oh my god.”

The beers ended up staying in the fridge on Sunday as the winner upgraded his weekend plans and took his wife out to a lovely restaurant to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The couple plan to help out their family with the windfall.

The man’s win caps an amazing three weeks in a row for Powerball, with players in Manukau, Otahuhu and Whanganui all beating the odds and winning the game’s First Division prize of $3 million, says NZ Lotteries’ Chief Executive, Todd McLeay.

“It is only the second time in the Powerball game’s history that three First Division prizes have been won in three weeks. The last time it happened was in June-July 2004.

“It’s a hat trick for three lucky Powerball winners and shows that our big prizes can be won at any time,” NZ Lotteries’ Chief Executive Todd McLeay said.

The winning Powerball ticket was sold at Dawson Superette in Manukau and is worth a total of $3,500,000 - with $3 million from Powerball and $500,000 from Lotto First Division.

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