A lucky lottery player from Quebec didn’t wait to announce his retirement after he found out he won half of the life-changing $80 million Lotto Max jackpot.
All eyes were on the prize during the Lotto Max draw on Tuesday, December 3. That’s because the jackpot had reached $80 million for the second time in the game’s history. And just like the first time, two people split the top prize.
On Monday, Loto Québec revealed that Montreal resident Jean Lamontagne had purchased one of the two winning lottery tickets. He was at work when he checked and discovered he’d won a staggering $40 million prize.
Loto Québec
The sixty-year-old didn’t waste time sharing the news with his bosses first, adding that he’d take advantage of the Lotto Max windfall to retire earlier than planned.
Lamontagne is close with his colleagues, so a few days after the big win, he returned to his workplace to treat them to a pizza lunch and say farewell.
He was surrounded by his loved ones when he received his cheque on Monday at the Casino de Montreal.
Lamontagne is prioritizing his family’s financial security with the massive windfall. He plans to invest part of the win in real estate and purchase multiplexes for his children, his brother, and his sisters-in-law.
Loto Québec
But it’s not all work and no play for the Lotto Max winner.
Lamontagne also plans to treat himself to a several-month-long European trip, making a cherished dream come true.
He isn’t the only Quebecer who’s nabbed half of the historical prize.
The last time two winning tickets won the $80 million prize was during the September 17 draw, when Ontario couple Stephanie and Bryan Cantwell split the prize with Quebec resident Bernard Morissette.
Morissette, a retiree, said he intends to use his $40 million windfall to secure his children’s financial future. Similarly, the Cantwells said they plan to use their share to help family, friends, and the community.
Think you could be the winner of the other half of the multimillion-dollar Lotto Max prize? Check if your lottery numbers match here.
With files from Irish Mae Silvestre
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