Aussie woman oblivious to $4.8 million lotto win before Christmas: 'Cool bananas'
The lucky winner held the only division one winning entry and is now 'set for life'.
Monday night's mystery Set for Life winner has finally come forward to claim her newfound fortune after taking an impressive $4.8 million win.
The woman from Narre Warren in Melbourne purchased the only division one winning entry nationally, scooping the entire jackpot. But because she was not registered, officials from The Lott had no way of contacting her to break the life-changing news.
Until now, the lucky winner had no idea she was Australia's newest multi-millionaire, but when speaking with lottery officials on Friday morning, she was over the moon.
"It’s so very exciting. I can't believe this," she told officials on Friday morning. "I was having a tough week and have been feeling under the weather, so this is a wonderful surprise. I’ll have to leave the celebrations until I feel better."
Millionaire's grand plans with mammoth win
The Melbourne woman wins a total division one prize of $4.8 million, paid in monthly instalments of $20,000 a month for the next 20 years. She said she has dedicated the past 24 hours to daydreaming about the transformative possibilities the division one prize could bring into her life for the next two decades.
"I always read about the Set for Life division one winners receiving their $20,000 on the 15th of every month and how great it would be to win. I’ve lived in my house for more than three decades and I’ve thought about packing up and moving into a new house – now it’s possible!" she said.
"It’s time to buy a new house and change it up a bit. I’ll also have to do some post-Christmas shopping when I feel better. Woo-hoo! Happy New Year to me! Cool bananas!"
The winning numbers in Set for Life draw 3056 on Monday 18 December 2023 were 44, 25, 38, 21, 41, 18 and 39, while the supplementary numbers were 8 and 34.
Oz Lotto: 'Grumpy' man apologises after scooping $30m jackpot
Bitter Lotto fight over Aussie syndicate's $1.5 million winnings
$90 million up for grabs in Oz Lotto draw
The news comes as Aussies prepare for Tuesday night's mega Oz Lotto draw which will see $90 million up for grabs .
It is the first time the Oz Lotto jackpot has reached such a figure in more than 14 years, with The Lott confirming to Yahoo News Australia that June, 2009 was the only other time in the game's 30-year history a $90 million division one prize was on offer.
With this week's $70 million prize going unclaimed, the final Oz Lotto draw of 2023 will also be the second-biggest prize offered by any Australian lottery game this year, surpassed only by Powerball's $100 million jackpot in August.
Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new weekly newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.