A group of 15 colleagues from Perth have won a $30 million Powerball prize.
The group, made up of both women and men between the ages of 30 and 60, will each receive an equal share of $2 million.
The syndicate leader, who founded the group more than seven years ago, said they initially forgot to buy their usual Saturday Lotto ticket and ended up buying a Powerball ticket.
“We all put money into a cat and I buy a Saturday Lotto ticket every week, plus one for jackpots of $50 million or more,” he said.
‘I couldn’t believe it when I realized I had forgotten to buy our Saturday Lotto ticket. I thought about the sadness I would get at work on Monday.’
“I saw that Powerball cost $30 million and bought a ticket for that on a whim instead.”
The ticket holder plans to retire early and go caravanning around Australia with his wife.
Other winners plan to retire early, help their children, visit family abroad and book the holiday they’ve been dreaming of.
A group of 15 colleagues from Perth have won a $30 million Powerball prize
One winner joked that as soon as she heard the news she bought a pineapple – for her the ultimate treat.
‘We should never have had a ticket for this draw. I never expected to win, but enjoy playing knowing that some of the money goes to helping the community,” the ticket holder said.
Lotterywest spokesperson Zoe Wender said the three-week Powerball jackpot run raised $5.9 million for Lotterywest’s grant program, which supports community groups across WA.
“It was incredible to welcome this group of 15 winners to the Lotterywest Winners Room and see how ecstatic they were,” she said.
“This is a life-changing victory for this group of colleagues, and how wonderful that they share the joy of winning together.”