Mystery winner of $4.8million lottery prize finally found right before Christmas – as she plans a significant life change with the windfall
Australia's newest millionaire has finally claimed her millions after her ticket went unclaimed for days – as she reveals how she plans to spend the money.
Monday's Set for Life draw saw one division one winner, with the woman from Narre Warren, 38 kilometers south-east of Melbourne, taking home the full $4.8 million.
Because the ticket was not registered, The Lott officials were unable to contact the winner and were forced to rely on word of mouth.
The tactic worked and on Friday morning the woman received a life-changing phone call.
'Woohoo! Happy New Year to me! Cool bananas,” she reportedly said when officials told her she had won nearly $5 million.
Monday's Set for Life draw saw one division one winner, with the woman from Narre Warren, 38km south-east of Melbourne, taking home the full $4.8 million (stock image)
Because the ticket was not registered, The Lott officials were unable to contact the winner and were forced to rely on word of mouth (stock image)
The woman will pocket $20,000 every month for 20 years until the prize is paid out. Her first purchase will be a new house.
'I had a tough week and felt bad, so this is a great surprise. I will have to leave the festivities until I feel better,” she said.
'I've lived in my house for over thirty years and have thought about packing up and moving to a new house – now it's possible.
'It's time to buy a new house and fix it up a bit. I will also have to do some shopping after Christmas when I feel better.
Her winning numbers were 44, 25, 38, 21, 41, 18 and 39, while the additional numbers were 8 and 34.
Now the Aussies have their eyes on Oz Lotto mega draw with $90 million to be won on Boxing Day, December 26.
The huge prize pool will be the largest in over 14 years, which has only been matched once in the game's 30-year history in June 2009.
TThe final Oz Lotto draw of the year will also be the second-largest prize in Australian lottery history, surpassed only by Powerball's $100 million jackpot in August.
The woman plans to buy a new house with her winnings, which will be paid out in monthly installments of $20,000 over the next twenty years (stock image)