An Otago man plans on buying his “bucket list” car after a couple won $12.3 million in last Saturday’s Powerball draw.
The couple say they are in “utter disbelief” after winning the jackpot.
The man said they were regular players who had brought a triple-dip ticket after a $25 win in the previous draw.
“That paid for our next ticket, which was sweet,” he said.
The man was following the draw live as the numbers on his ticket were slowly revealed.
“I don’t usually watch the draw play, but it was pretty cool following the numbers as they circled, the first was in the middle, then right, then left, and before I knew it, I was staring at a full line.
“It blew my mind. I called my partner over to check what I was seeing, and we were in utter disbelief,” he said.
Riding a “rollercoaster of emotions”, the couple said they struggled to get to sleep that night.
“We just keep saying to each other ‘did that really happen?’ It’s such a crazy feeling.”
Once the money had been deposited in their bank account, they were able to celebrate with some drinks the man said.
“That’s when it felt real – looking at the bank account and seeing it there.”
He said the couple plans to help their family before ticking some things off their bucket list.
“We are going to take a few days away from reality, stay somewhere nice and then drive back home in a car that’s been on my bucket list for a while,” said the man.
“You’ve got one chance to fulfil your dreams, and now we’re lucky enough to be able to, so we’ve got to do it!”
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