The boss of 20 miners who won the first division prize of $53 million in Australia’s biggest jackpot ever has warned his staff he will chase them if they don’t return.
A lotto syndicate from the Western Australian mining town of Kalgoorlie claimed the huge prize last Thursday – the second time a local syndicate has won a mega prize in the past year.
The group of 20 gold prospectors working night shifts together won $53 million in the Powerball last week, meaning each worker got $2.6 million richer.
Their boss, Chris Wood, said he didn’t believe the miners when they told him about their victory, saying it was “impossible.”
A group of 20 night shift gold prospectors from the Kalgoorlie-Boulder mines (above) each won $2.6 million in last Thursday’s Powerball
“They called me to tell me they had won the lottery and I didn’t believe them,” he told the ABC.
Mr Wood said the group are “great workers” and are his best squad.
‘I’m ecstatic. I am very happy for each of them. However, I expect to lose them,” he said.
“I told them I’ll run after them and steal their ticket if they don’t come back.”
Winning prospector ‘Peter’ said the group had never entered the lottery together before Thursday’s win.
“It was just a one-off because it was a big draw,” Peter told Perth radio station 6PR on weekends.
“We just couldn’t believe it. We all put in $100, kind of spontaneous action.’
At least one of Mr Wood’s miners wants to stay on the job despite her huge win.
Last Thursday, Powerball was worth a record-breaking $160 million with two lucky people and a lotto syndicate taking the first win (photo, queues in Sydney to buy a ticket)
One of Mr. Wood’s miners said she will “load trucks” despite her $2.6 million Powerball winnings on Thursday (pictured, one of the winning miners)
The ecstatic miner filmed her reaction to the win, but was sure she would continue her normal life.
“You know how they say, one Powerball and I’m out of here? Well, it’s not true. I’ve known since the beginning of my shift and I’m still loading trucks,” she said.
“So yes, there are 18 at my job who are now millionaires.”
Each member in the winning group bet $100 on last week’s Powerball, where a record $160 million was up for grabs.
Plant operator Peter said the victory “changed everyone’s lives.”
“We just couldn’t believe it, we all put $100 in it, some sort of spontaneous action,” he told Perth Radio. 6PR.
It comes just eight months after another Kalgoorlie group called “Goldfields, let’s pay out mortgages” saw 250 people claim $63 million.
Group member and local business owner Kylie Owens said the win felt “great,” but she also agreed she wouldn’t be leaving her job.
The group took home a $53 million first division prize last Thursday from the $160 million Powerball (above)
A Melbourne worker and a western Sydney father also took home first-class prizes worth $53 million from the draw.
The grateful father confirmed his win to The Lott officials on Friday morning.
“I said to my family, ‘I think I might have won the first division,’ but nobody believed me,” he said.
‘What are you saying, they believe me now! My family’s life has changed in an instant.
‘To think I almost didn’t miss a entry, I had to rush to grab one yesterday before the draw closed!
“This means so much to me. I will finally be able to buy a house for my family, my children can have what they want for Christmas, and we will be safe and ready for life.
‘I still can’t believe this is my life! Thank you, thank you, thank you!’