Powerball winner who scooped entire $60 million says he’ll ‘retire immediately’

A Canberra man who says he nearly had a heart attack when he found out he’d won the division one Powerball prize has revealed what he plans to do with his overnight fortune.

The 60-year-old, who has played the same numbers for years, answered his phone on the first ring on Thursday night when The Lott officials called to confirm the good news.

And, in another stroke of incredible luck, the man’s PowerHit entry also scored division two 19 times, bumping his total prize up to an even healthier $60,701,558.85.

“Are you serious!?” he told the Lott officials. “I’m laughing. I’m lost for words. I’m pacing around. I can’t believe it.

“I’m going to have a heart attack.

“You know what? I had a feeling it was The Lott calling me! I thought, ‘They’re going to call me at 8.30pm tonight’. Wow! Wow! Wow!”

The man said winning lotto had been his dream and that he played the same numbers — inspired by his family — all the time.

He also spoke of his plans for the loot.

“I’m going to retire,” he told The Lott officials..

“I have children and a very large family. They’re going to be looked after. I can’t believe it. Oh my god!

“It’s been a tough year. This is life-changing.

“I’m going to pay off some bills and enjoy living debt-free. I’m going to take a long-overdue holiday with my family.

“I can’t believe it. I’m shaking!”

The winning numbers were 22, 6, 1, 16, 17, 29 and 11. The all-important Powerball number was 2.

In 2021, 14 Powerball division one winners across Australia pocketed more than $550.1 million in prize money.

Of the 14 Powerball division one winning entries in 2021, just one was from WA, with seven from New South Wales, four in Queensland and two in Victoria.