The $ 25 Million Mom: What the Record Hawke’s Bay Lotto Winner Has Spent On

A Hawke’s Bay mother who claimed a $ 25.1 million lottery prize earlier this year has kept her expenses to a minimum, buying a new home and helping out friends and family.

The woman, who wants to remain anonymous, split a record $ 50 million in Powerball First Division winnings at the end of February – the largest Lotto NZ jackpot at the time, and it’s still the biggest.

While some spend their money on dream cars and glamorous vacations, the Hawke’s Bay winner said she had taken a family-centered approach.

“I know it sounds cliché, but it has changed our lives,” he said.

“I bought a new house that we recently moved into and have helped family and friends.”

The winner, who purchased her Lucky Triple Dip at Countdown Manukau City Mall while visiting Auckland, added: “Now I can do everything I had ever envisioned in my life and it helps me build a better future for my children and my family.”

The winner previously said she had several sleepless nights after Lotto confirmed that the ticket was purchased from the store.

“I had been keeping my ticket in my phone case and under my pillow at night, I hadn’t been sleeping much.”

This year has been the biggest for Lotto Powerball winners, with 62 kiwis becoming millionaires overnight in 2020 and a total of $ 617 million given away.

Lotto’s director of communications and corporate social responsibility, Marie Winfield, said 2020 had been a challenging year for everyone.

“It’s amazing that a record number of Kiwis’ lives have changed overnight with Powerball during the year,” he said.

Winfield said 16 Powerball winners won big in 2019, with that number going up to 28 this year.

After paying off his mortgage and helping his immediate family, the other $ 50 million raffle winner Must Be Won bought a bach on vacation.

The Auckland-based winner said he was excited to create memories with his children at his new property.