Mystery Powerball winner is $50 million richer

The record $100 million Powerball has been won, with two winning tickets. But one mystery Victorian is now $50 million richer.

Two Aussies are now $50 million richer after jointly winning Thursday’s $100 million Powerball jackpot.

The mammoth $100 million prize was the equal biggest jackpot offered by any Australian lottery game so far this year and is the equal fifth-biggest jackpot in the nation’s lottery history.

The winning ticket from Victoria was purchased online, with officials unable to contact the person on Thursday night.

A 10-person syndicate in Sydney won the other $50 million, with the ticket purchased from a newsagency in Rosebery.

“Holy s***! Holy s***!” one of the members told The Lott.

“Are you serious? I’ve won $5 million? I’m in shock. You’ve changed my life.

“I’m watching football as we speak, and I had no idea who was calling. I can’t wait to call my mum and tell her the news – she won’t believe me.”

Division 2 prize pool of more than $2 million was won by 49 ticket holders – who each pocketed almost $41,000.

The Division 3 pool of $2.49m was shared by 268 people, who each won $9292.

Nearly 2.5 million punters shared in the final prize pool in Division 9, with each getting $11.55.

The winning numbers are: 13, 7, 18, 1, 23, 25, 33

The powerball number is: 7

WHAT PAST WINNERS HAVE SPLASHED CASH ON

Drawing on surveys of last year’s division one winners, The Lott’s Annual Winners Report shows how winning a massive jackpot can impact a person’s life and what they prioritise when it comes to splashing the cash.

Past winners stressed the importance of answering your phone after a lottery draw, with more than a third (35 per cent) of division one winners discovering they had won when they received the surprise phone call of a lifetime from The Lott.

Powerball's jackpot has rocketed to $100 million. Picture: Supplied

Another 27 per cent of winners found out they were newly minted millionaires via their online The Lott account or from a notification email.

One winner told of their initial reaction to the news they had won millions: “I was shocked, overwhelmed and emotional. I said it was something that happens to other people.”

Another said they initially thought the phone call telling them their division one win was a scam.

“I remember saying how cruel it was to receive this (scam) call on a Monday morning when I was getting ready for work. LOL! But when I discovered it was real, my body went numb,” they said.

The report also revealed that clearing the decks of financial burdens was top of the agenda for many savvy division one winners.

Powerball winners have told of their life-changing wins. Picture: Supplied

The top three plans made by winners were investing money for the future (56 per cent), using their cash windfall to help family and friends (49 per cent) and paying off their mortgage or buying a new house (48 per cent).

Other winners generously used their jackpot for personal or random acts of financial kindness.

“I have sent a couple of bank cheques to friends anonymously,” one kind winner said. “I have also upgraded a friend’s trip to business class, which they will only find out when they check in.”

Another said they enjoyed spreading the love by giving sums of money to buskers and Big Issue sellers.

“It’s worth the look on their face,” they said.

More than a quarter of all winners (28 per cent) shared their windfall with more than 10 people, with one generous winner saying their division one prize had directly benefited up to 50 people.

Twelve per cent of winners revealed they also used their prize to donate to charities close to their hearts.

Almost half (48.3 per cent) of division one winners used their prize to enjoy a bucket-list holiday within months of their win.

“Going for a four-week holiday to Italy, Greece and Turkey,” one winner said.

Another thoughtful winner had a poignant trip planned for their mother-in-law, who had long dreamt of an iconic Australian train trip.

“We are taking my wife’s mum on The Ghan as a Mother’s Day/80th birthday holiday as she has always wanted to go on that train ride,” they said.

The Lott spokesman Matt Hart said Powerball could crown back-to-back $100 million division one winners if one person pocketed the entire jackpot this week.

“The last time there was a Powerball division one winner was on 22 June, when a Bankstown dad pocketed $100 million and became Australia’s second-biggest individual lottery winner. Could we have another $100 million winner this Thursday night?” he said.

Mr Hart said some winners had a physical reaction to their good fortune.

“Hearts racing, hands shaking, body going numb and feeling that they might be sick, major prize winners have shared all sorts of unexpected side-effects of their exciting news,” he said.

“Once the life-changing news has sunk in, most winners were keen to share the news with their nearest and dearest, including partners, immediate family, and close friends. Only 10 per cent told absolutely no one about their win.

“When Australian division one winners tell us what they’ve done with their prize – from helping family members buy their first home to enjoying a holiday with friends – you immediately get a sense about who’s important in their lives.

“For Aussie winners, a big part of winning big is sharing with others, whether that be with their children, their grandchildren, their parents, their friends and even strangers in need of a helping hand.”

Entries into the $100 million Powerball draw 1420 close at 7.30pm AEST on Thursday, August 3, 2023. Tickets can be purchased at any licenced lottery outlet, online from thelott.com or via The Lott mobile app.

Originally published as Mystery Powerball winner is $50 million richer