Aussie wins juiced up Powerball jackpot with ticket he almost did not buy

Australia has a new Powerball winner who is celebrating a last-minute decision that has changed his family’s life forever.

The $20m winner from Thursday’s draw, a resident of Latrobe Valley in Victoria, secured his ticket just 35 seconds before the draw closed.

“We don’t normally play Powerball, but tonight I saw it was $20 million and thought I’d have a crack at that and have a bit of fun,” he told The Lott.
 
“I bought the ticket with about a minute to go.

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“I picked the numbers myself, a mix of one or two family birthdays and then a few random numbers.
 
“I can’t believe it. My wife is asking me if it’s real.”

Gaming officials have confirmed the timestamp on the online ticket reads 7:29:25, leaving him a buffer of just 35 seconds.

He was the only player in Australia to hold the magic combination needed to unluck the division one prize.

The numbers needed for Powerball draw 1578 were 27, 6, 35, 17, 11, 15 and 26. The vital Powerball number was 11.

“It’s a life-changing moment,” the man said.
 
“I reckon an around-the-world trip is called for and after that some investment strategies to set the family up for the future.”

The huge win comes after two players scored an equal share of Oz Lotto’s $40 million jackpot on Tuesday.

One winner of that draw also explained how it almost did not happen because he was held up at work.

“I struggled to get to the newsagent. I was late from work and got there in time – a couple of minutes before closing,” he said.