You’ll forgive me for writing about the South African lottery, but I’m married to a South African and her relatives still live there.
Besides, this is a damned interesting story… and if it happened anywhere else in the world, I’d write about it. The story first appeared in the Daily Telegraph in London, and our European correspondent mailed it to us.
A 34-year-old South African came forward in November to claim $3.9 million U.S. dollars (30 million in South African currency, the rand) on South Africa’s PowerBall draw – less than a decade after he collected 11 million rand in a previous competition.
Lotto chiefs on Friday said the winner had beaten “galactic odds” to scoop the top prize twice.
Statistics showed he beat odds of 14 million to one to scoop his first jackpot, and 24 million to one to claim the second.
Thembi Tulwana, spokesman for South Africa’s Lottery operator Gidani, said: “It’s simply incredible. The odds on him winning twice were galactic.
Well, gee. I guess so.
The double winner has asked to remain anonymous but is believed to be a successful businessman from South Africa’s Limpopo province.
Officials said he had indicated he would invest most of the windfall for the future of his four children.
He also said he hoped to spend some on establishing a charity to help Africa’s poor.
Despite his victory, organisers said the winner was surprisingly calm when he arrived to pick up his check.
Incredibly, he told them he usually spends just £8 (100 rand) a month on tickets.
Ms Tulwana said: “We offered to pick him up, but he decided to drive to our headquarters. We couldn’t believe how calm he was.
“He gave the impression of a man who has money.
The double victory makes the South African man one of the luckiest lottery players ever.
Well folks, read my book (see to the right) and you’ll read MULTIPLE stories about winners who have won twice, even three times.
I even have a story about someone who won TWICE in the same day…beating trillion to one odds.