Luck, fate, or simply divine providence, whatever you call it, these ten South Africans found it in spades. Their lives were forever changed when they hit the jackpot. These are the stories of the top ten lottery winners in South Africa.
1. The Cape Town Jackpot of R232 Million
Holding the record for the most massive PowerBall and overall lottery win in South African history is a man from Cape Town. After 24 consecutive rollovers, the prize pool increased by R20 million from the previous draw, causing a nationwide frenzy in lottery ticket sales. Yet, the astronomical top prize of R232,131,750 was won by a single ticket purchased at an OK Mini Mart in Tygerdal. Choosing to remain anonymous, the winner, despite his newfound wealth and being in his 50s, stated that he would continue working.
2. The Summer Surprise of R167 Million
The second largest PowerBall prize remained elusive for almost the entire summer, beginning in November until finally being claimed in February. The lucky Quick Pick ticket, purchased in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, led to an astonishing win of R167,332,410.
3. The R158 Million Online Windfall
A woman from North West province made history as the largest online lottery winner from South Africa. After losing her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her R158 million PowerBall win using the ABSA banking app was nothing short of a blessing. This newfound fortune allowed her to fulfill her dream of a seaside family vacation in Durban and plans to build her dream home.
4. The R153 Million Standard Bank App Winner
A lucky player from KwaZulu-Natal, playing via the Standard Bank app, hit a jackpot of R153,466,150 on his third draw. He, along with his wife, surprised his in-laws with the news. Although the couple was declared financially secure for life, they had no intentions to quit their jobs.
5. The R145 Million Engineer’s Dream
The fifth biggest lotto win was secured by a 34-year-old engineer from Ekurhuleni. After two months of no winners, his single ticket selection led to a win of R145,469,799. He kept his winning ticket safe in an unexpected place: his sock. This winner expressed his desire to assist future generations of his family and invest in business.
6. The R141 Million Golden Dust Dream
The sixth slot goes to a construction worker who, inspired by his wife’s dream about being sprinkled with gold dust, decided to try his luck. He purchased a Quick Pick at a Spar in Groot Brakrivier, near Mossel Bay in Western Cape, and ended up winning R141,343,180. The couple plans to invest their winnings to secure the financial future of their grandchildren.
7. The R135 Million Lockdown Winner
During the COVID-19 lockdown, a lotto player from KwaZulu-Natal province won R135,336,753 using the FNB banking app. The pay-out, however, was delayed due to the closure of the National Lottery offices.
8. The R121 Million Bloemfontein Believer
A disbelief-stricken winner from Bloemfontein checked his ticket approximately 30 times before accepting that he had indeed won the PowerBall of R121,730,295. The lucky ticket was purchased at Belvera Supermarket in Bloemspruit. With his newfound wealth, he decided to retire early and donate some of his winnings to his church.
9. The R114.5 Million Soweto Mother’s Gift
The ninth slot goes to a 35-year-old woman from Soweto who bagged R114.5 million after purchasing a single line for PowerBall at Victor and Son’s Café in Roodepoort. The win allowed her to buy houses for herself and her mother, a significant relief after previously struggling to pay rent.
10. The R114 Million Life Changer
Closing our list is an unemployed father of two who claimed his R114,242,816 win just two days after the draw. He expressed his intentions to use the winnings to improve his family’s life and build a new house for his mother.
These extraordinary stories show that dreams can come true, and fortunes can change overnight. The next time you buy a lottery ticket, remember these lucky South African winners, and who knows, you might just become the next person on this list.