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‘Couldn’t move’: Aussie dad’s single ticket scoops entire $60 million jackpot
The winner, who was unknown to officials until this morning, purchased a ticket on a whim after going to the newsagency to get a treat for his kids.
- A father in Sydney’s west has become the third biggest lottery winner of 2026, scooping the entire $60 million Oz Lotto prize.
- The winner, who was unknown to officials until this morning, purchased a ticket on a whim after going to the newsagency to get a treat for his kids.
- He says he plans to buy a house and set up his family, and maybe even start his own business.
A single ticket has claimed the entirety of last night’s Oz Lotto $60 million jackpot, marking the third biggest lottery win of 2026.
Lottery officials knew after the draw that a single entry had won the division one prize, but had no way of contacting Australia’s newest millionaire.
This morning a father from Woodcroft, in Sydney’s west, rang officials to confirm he held the winning ticket.
“Mate, I was sitting on the couch with the wife. I checked the app and saw one person had won $60 million,” the man told officials.
“The wife said, ‘It’s definitely not us’. But I went to the fridge where the ticket was and scanned it.
“When I saw it, I was just standing there. I couldn’t move.”
He said he “didn’t sleep at all” last night and thanked his children for his good fortune.
“It’s actually all thanks to my kids. They wanted a treat, so I went to the newsagency, and while I was there, I bought this ticket,” he said.
“This has changed my whole life.
“I know the house I want to buy. I know what I want to do. I want to set up my family
“I’ll still be going to work, but who knows, I might even start my own business. I’ve got my dreams.”
The winning ticket was bought from Woodcroft Newsagency, where owner Michael Boutros said he was proud to have played a role in somebody’s dreams coming true.
“A few years ago we sold a share into a syndicate that won division one in Powerball, but this is something else,” Boutros said.
“All our customers are going to be so excited. A huge congratulations to our winner – we wish you all the very best with your prize.”
Lottery win ranks among all-time Australian winners
The Woodcroft father’s $60 million windfall instantly made him the third-biggest lottery winner this year, but he still has a long way to go to break into the all-time top three.
In February 2024, the Powerball jackpot hit $200 million and was shared by two tickets — one in Singleton, NSW and another in Brisbane, Queensland.
Both tickets shared the biggest jackpot in history, but the players themselves scooped $100 million each and placed them in equal second.
Then, just a few months later in May 2024, the Powerball jackpot hit $150 million, and a single ticket from Adelaide, South Australia, scooped the entire division one prize.
Within 15 minutes, that player became not only the biggest single-ticket winner in history, but also the largest take-home winner of all time.
It is worth keeping in mind that playing lotteries, however harmless, is still gambling, with the chance of winning Oz Lotto’s top prize currently sitting at one in 62,891,499 (63 million).