Coworkers instant multimillionaires after $60-million Lotto Max win
Lunar New Year is associated with good fortune, and for a group of Canadian coworkers, that fortune came in the form of a life-changing Lotto Max win.
Ontario residents Trang Pham, Suong Tran, Phong Phan, Thuc Le, and Zou Hsieh work together at a construction company. The five of them play the lottery together, and one day, group leader Pham decided to buy a Lotto Max ticket at 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.
But little did she know how much that decision would change their lives.
OLG
“I saw in the news that the $60-million Lotto Max winning ticket had been sold in Etobicoke, so I checked ours right away,” said Pham. “I reviewed the numbers myself and saw that one of the lines matched exactly. I couldn’t believe it, so I checked the ticket again, this time on the OLG app. When I saw $60 million on the screen, I was in total shock.”
After playing as a group, they finally won big in the Jan. 21, 2025, Lotto Max draw.
“I took a screenshot and sent it to the group chat right away,” recounted Pham. Her phone soon started “blowing up” as group members called and texted.
OLG
Tran said, “I was in a parking lot at work when the text came in. I thought Trang was teasing us, so I called her. When she confirmed it wasn’t a joke, I started shaking and crying tears of joy.”
Phan, on the other hand, was about to start work when he saw the text.
“I couldn’t believe it. Then I did. I was so happy… I didn’t know what was going on!” he shared. “So many emotions. I even checked the numbers myself. It was hard to act normal that day.”
Coworkers Hsieh and Le weren’t in the group chat, so Phan shared the news with them, leaving them both stunned and unable to sleep or eat for days.
However, reality didn’t set in until they received the giant $60-million cheque at a Winner’s Celebration event hosted by OLG. Each group member also received a cheque for their share of the winnings, making them $12 million richer.
Pham said she’ll be using her windfall to buy a home and will be sharing her winnings with her parents.
Trang Pham (OLG)
“Purchasing a home has been a dream of mine since my parents relocated to Canada,” she said. “They made so many sacrifices for me, and now it’s my time to take care of them. I also plan to make some investments and tap into my inner philanthropist.”
Phan says it’s still too soon for him to retire, but he will use his winnings to travel.
Suong Tran (OLG)
“That’s been a dream of mine,” he said. “I also want to start my own business, so I have a lot to think about. I’ll do that while I travel.”
Hsieh, on the other hand, plans to retire immediately.
Zou Hsieh (OLG)
“Last year, I was worried about retiring, but now I don’t have to,” he said. “I want to start travelling the world and see it all. I really hope to catch a glimpse of the northern lights along the way.”
For Le, the win is about family.
Thuc Le (OLG)
“The first thing I want to buy is a house for my mother,” he said. “I’ll share this win with my family and will also treat myself to a new car.”
Tran said she would take some time to let the news sink in.
Suong Tran (OLG)
“I have many causes that are special to me that I want to support, so I’ll calmly consider all options before making any big decisions,” she said.
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, check out these resources.