Past Lotto winners have offered their advice for future winners ahead of Thursday’s monster $100m Powerball jackpot.
It’s the thought that’s crossed every Aussie’s mind: ‘What would I do if I won the lotto?’
Last year there were 500 division one winning entries amassing more than $1.5bn in prize money, with this Thursday’s powerball having the potential to leave one lucky punter with a staggering $100m as winnings stack up.
It could mark the third biggest prize of the entire year, as well as the sixth largest in Australian lottery history.
Past winners have reported using their cash on everything from skydiving to a brand new whiz-bang sewing machine.
“We went to the Monaco Grand Prix. Always been a life dream to do so,” one lucky winner said according to the Lott’s Annual Winners Report.
“I did a skydive over the Gold Coast,” another reported.
“Get a new hip and kitchen,” added another.
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Investing money for the future (53 per cent), paying off mortgages or buying a new house (53 per cent), and helping out family and friends (40 per cent) were the three biggest uses for division one winnings.
Another 13 per cent used money to give back to charity.
“Those closest to me are debt-free. My heart is happy to have donated to my charities that means so much to me, and I am also debt-free and able to help my immediate family,” one person said.
The winnings have also “removed stress and worry” and “opened up possibilities” for some winners.
“Not having to worry about anything financial is the greatest feeling,” one winner revealed.
Lucky past winners have offered sage advice for future lottery winners ahead of this week’s powerball, with many urging people to seek out a financial advisor and help others.
“At first stop, relax and think. Then do what makes you happy,” one person said.
“Doesn’t matter how much you accumulate in your life you are not going to eat it all alone. Make sure to help others,” another added.
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The Lott spokesperson Matt Hart revealed just five per cent of people told “absolutely no one” about their win, with 19 other people directly benefiting from an individual’s division one win on average.
“Once the life-changing news had sunk in, most winners were keen to share the news with their nearest and dearest, including partners, immediate family, and close friends,” he said.
“While most people dream of buying new things, like a house or car, if they were to win division one, for many winners their minds quickly shift to their nearest and dearest – how they can spend more time with them and make their lives more carefree.
“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. You immediately get a sense of who’s important in their lives.”