Boss’s quip to mine workers who shared staggering $53m jackpot

A group of WA miners has claimed part of Powerball’s staggering $160m jackpot, and their boss has shared his thoughts on the massive win.

A group of West Australian miners has literally struck gold after winning a share of last week’s staggering $160 million Powerball jackpot.

While at least one of them is likely to continue working, their boss quipped he would “run after them” and steal their ticket if they didn’t come back to work, upon learning 20 of his best workers had claimed the prize.

The group of 20 work in the mining town of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and formed a lottery syndicate, paying $100 each for their tickets.

They walked away with $53 million of Thursday’s division one winnings, each pocketing about $2.65 million.

One of the miners, Peter, told 6PR Radio the realisation was “still sinking in”.

“I only thought we’d won the second division,” the 54-year-old said.

“This was a one-off because it was a big draw … it was a spur of the moment thing.

“I couldn’t believe it, I checked the ticket about 10 times.”

The group of miners from Western Australia’s Kalgoorlie-Boulder region paid $100 each to take part in the lotto syndicate, walking away with $53m of the $160m jackpot last week.

The winning ticket was sold at a newsagency in Boulder, nearly 600km east of Perth.

The team of miners – colloquially referring to themselves as the ‘We Outta Here’ Syndicate – showed off their golden tickets on a pin board.

“It’s life-changing for all of us,” Peter told 9 News.

“Nobody believed me because I’m a bit of a joker.”

The miners showed off their winning tickets on the work board, complete with the syndicate’s unofficial title. Picture: Nine News

Chris Wood, the group’s boss, quipped he would “run after them and steal their ticket” if his employees didn’t come back to work.

He said he was still in disbelief at the news.

“They’re great workers; it is my best shift,” Mr Wood told the ABC.

“I’m ecstatic. I’m very happy for each of them. I expect I might lose them, though.”

But in a video posted to Facebook, one of the miners confirmed she would be sticking around.

“‘You know how they say, one Powerball and I’m out of here? Well, it ain’t true,” the ecstatic woman says in the video.

“I’ve known since the start of my shift and I’m still loading trucks.”

“So yeah, there’s 18 at my work who are now millionaires.”

This miner was among a group of 20 mates who scooped $53.3 million as part of a lottery syndicate. Picture: 7 News

It is the second time this year the Western Australian mining town has landed a massive lottery win, after 250 Kalgoorlie residents pooled their tickets to claim the $63 million jackpot in February.

Thursday’s $160 million Powerball was shared with two other winners – a Penrith dad from NSW and a man from Clyde, in Victoria.

The Clyde blue-collar worker cried “tears of joy” upon learning he’d won $53 million.

“Oh my god, oh my god. I can’t believe this!” he cried.

“Holy sh*t! Far out! I’m absolutely speechless.

“I never thought I’d get this phone call. This has changed my life!”

The winning numbers in Powerball draw 1380 on October 27 were 10, 4, 12, 18, 2, 34 and 7, and the Powerball number was 7.

Originally published as Boss’s quip to mine workers who shared staggering $53m jackpot