Lucky Canadian wins lottery again after splitting $60M win with coworkers
Just months after splitting a lottery jackpot, one Canadian is back to claim another prize, this time scoring a win on her own.
On Jan. 21, five co-workers at a construction company in Ontario won the $60 million Lotto Max jackpot after group leader Trang Pham purchased a ticket at a Giant Tiger in Etobicoke.
“About a week before Lunar New Year, I was buying creamer for the office and thought I’d pick up a ticket for the group,” she recalled.
When she saw that the winning ticket was sold in Etobicoke, she immediately checked their ticket and found out they’d won.
“I took a screenshot and sent it to the group chat right away,” recalled Pham. After splitting their prize, she and fellow group members Suong Tran, Phong Phan, Thuc Le, and Zou Hsieh all became $12 million richer.
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At the time, Pham said she’d share her money with her parents and planned to buy a home. It also meant that she could finally retire.
Months later, a spontaneous decision would lead to her second big win.
“I was shopping at an outlet mall and got thirsty, so I stopped at a nearby gas station to grab a bottle of water,” Pham said. “While I was there, I ended up buying a couple of tickets.”
She had purchased an Instant Golden Multiplier and decided to play her lottery ticket the next morning while in her car.
“I uncovered the top prize and realized it was a winning ticket,” she recalled. “Then I scanned it using the OLG app on my phone — and there it was: $250,000! I was so happy and excited.”
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She said that her husband and friends were shocked and happy for her. While at the OLG Prize Centre to pick up her prize, she said winning the lottery twice has been “unbelievable.”
“It feels like I was struck by lightning twice in one year,” Pham stated. “You have to give yourself a smack just to make sure it’s real.”
She said she’ll use her winnings to pay bills and go on a well-deserved vacation. The winning ticket was purchased at Petro-Canada on Steeles Avenue West in Hornby.