Eye-watering $40m Powerball jackpot up for grabs

The last time somebody won a prize of that magnitude, the Sydney tradie revealed it had changed his life not entirely in a good way.

Powerball has a massive $40 million up for grabs for Thursday night after no one held a division one winning entry in last week’s draw.

In 2021, there were 14 division one winning entries that collectively took home more than $550 million in prize money.

Six of these division one winning entries landed in NSW, four in Queensland, two in Victoria and one in Western Australia.

A $40 million Powerball prize was last on offer in November last year.

However, the prize was not won and instead it jackpotted to $60 million for the following draw.

A Sydney tradie won a windfall similar in value to Thursday’s prize but in a surprising twist, revealed to news.com.au that becoming an instant millionaire wasn’t entirely a good thing.

The 2020 winner scored a whopping $30 million – but had a word of warning for other lotto winners.

There’s $40 million on offer tonight.

The ex-tradie aged in his 30s told news.com.au: “What my motto has become, I guess winning the lotto doesn’t make you any happier, it just makes life easier.

“If you’re not happy, and you want to win the lottery (to change that) you’re going to be terribly mistaken.”

The man spoke to news.com.au on the condition of anonymity after some “weird” experiences when telling friends and family about his new millionaire status.

“People have come out of the woodwork,” he explained.

“A lot of people find out through the grape vine, they never actually ask you. I had someone that I haven’t even seen since I was school in, probably 15 years ago.”

One very close friendship soured because “they didn’t take it well” when he told them he was now a multi-millionaire.

A Sydney tradie won a similar amount.

However, that said, the newly minted lotto winner was able to splash some cash.

The man no longer works as a tradie and enjoys not having to get up at 4am some mornings.

Instead, he works part-time in the entertainment industry, a maximum of 25 hours a week to “pass the time”.

He bought a house for himself as well as a holiday home and also a boat.

Instead of buying a brand-new car, he got a second hand car.

“I still like to go out and have a drink with friends, no point blowing big money on an expensive car,” the down-to-earth guy said.

Only his parents, immediate family members and some close friends know that he became a multi-millionaire in the space of one night.

“To be honest it’s one of those things where it leaks out. People never know the full amount,” he said.

He plans to travel to the US this year now that borders have opened.