Three Players Split Record Australia Powerball Jackpot
A record-breaking Australia Powerball jackpot of AU$110 million was split three ways on Thursday night, as ticket holders from New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria matched all the winning numbers in the game’s biggest draw of all time.
The winning numbers for Thursday 18th July were 1, 6, 11, 13, 16, 23 and 27, plus a Powerball of 11. Among the 3.5 million prizes that were won altogether, a trio of lucky players had the most to celebrate after pocketing AU$36 million each.
Adelaide Winner Wants To Travel The World
The first of the winners to receive the news was a young man from Adelaide, who was contacted by lottery officials straight after the draw, having purchased a Quick Pick ticket online. He was stunned to learn he had suddenly become a multimillionaire, saying his ‘heart was going a million miles an hour’.
He has decided to remain anonymous and has already had a couple of ideas about what he might do with the money. He said: “I would love to take my family on a holiday. I’m not sure where exactly I’ll be going but I think a round-the-world trip might be on the cards. In fact, we could even do it first class! I’ll also pay off my family’s mortgages and donate heaps to charity.”
The winner joked that he might even write out a resignation letter immediately when asked whether he would be going to work the next day. “I might quit my job,” he said. “I don’t know, I’m still in shock! I just can’t wait to get off the phone so I can call my family and tell them the news. I don’t know if they’ll even believe me!”
Sydney Player Won’t Quit Job
Lottery officials could not get hold of the New South Wales winner straight away, but a young couple from Sydney quickly came forward to claim their share of the AU$110 million. They had also played online and wished to remain anonymous, but the woman insisted she would not quit her work.
“I I love my job in medical research so won’t be giving that up but I do hope to use the money in a meaningful way,” she said, explaining that the biggest focus for the couple would be to look after their family. “We’ve got two kids so this will go a long way to setting them up for the future.”
Victoria Ticket Mystery
The third winning ticket was not registered to a player’s card so lottery officials have no way of tracking down the player and their identity remains a mystery for now. However, it has been revealed that entry was purchased at a Tatts outlet in the Macedon Ranges Shire area, north-west of Melbourne.
Bronwyn Spencer, spokesperson for lottery operator The Lott, said: “We can't wait to confirm the mind-blowing news with our mystery winner. Just imagine how your plans for the weekend, the year and the rest of your life will change knowing you are now over $36 million richer.”
The previous record for the highest Powerball jackpot ever offered in Australia was only set in January, when a woman from Sydney won AU$107 million after making a spur-of-the-moment decision to buy a ticket.
It had only taken eight draws without a winner to build the jackpot up to $110 million ahead of Thursday’s draw, with millions of tickets sold across Australia every week. Big jackpots are becoming increasingly common in the country and it may not be long before another nine-figure prize is put up for grabs. Check out the largest jackpots currently available around the world and take part online to try and become the next big winner.