A retiree from Adelaide has described being left 'shaking like a leaf' after discovering she held the only winning ticket for a staggering $20 million Powerball jackpot drawn on Christmas Day.
A Life-Changing Discovery
The unnamed woman, a resident of Hackham in Adelaide's outer south, purchased her lucky ticket at the Colonnades Lotto Kiosk on Beach Road. She was the sole Division One winner nationally in draw 1545, with the winning numbers being 7, 23, 29, 20, 11, 16, and 17, plus the Powerball number 17.
The winner only made the astonishing discovery this week, as she was not registered with The Lott Members Club for automatic notifications. The life-changing ticket had been sitting in her purse while she was busy with other matters. "I had no idea until I checked the ticket just now," she told officials. "It's been in my purse the whole time, but I had a lot going on this week so hadn't got around to checking it."
Plans for a $20 Million Windfall
Overcome with emotion, the woman shared her immediate plans for the monumental windfall, emphasising generosity. "There's a few things that come to mind. Helping my family, but also giving money to some of my favourite charities," she said.
She added, "A lot of people could do a lot of good with this money. I always like to give where I can, no matter what amount. Now I can give a little more." The retiree is still coming to terms with her new reality, stating, "You dream of it happening, but you just don't think it will happen to you. It hasn't sunk in... But I'm starting to get really excited! It's a good start to 2026!"
The Double-Edged Sword of Lottery Wins
This life-changing win coincides with a broader public discussion about the impact of sudden wealth, sparked by a question on Reddit: 'Do you know anyone who won the lottery in Australia?'
One respondent revealed his family's experience, describing a major win as a 'double-edged sword'. "The harsh truth is that money brings out the best and worst in people," he explained. "While it relieves financial pressure in many ways, it also attracts a bunch of new pressures... Given my own personal experience, if I ever found myself winning a large amount of money, I'd keep it secret - even from family."
Other stories shared highlighted both cautionary tales and successes:
- One user told of friends' parents who used a $1 million win to buy a franchise instead of paying off their house, a move that eventually sent them broke.
- Another shared a positive story where a family member in their 20s won $1.2 million, which allowed them to buy a house, a car, and go on holiday, setting them up financially.
- A woman recounted how her relative won a share of $70 million in a 2013 Queensland syndicate, money she was deemed 'really deserving' of due to personal hardships.
For the Adelaide retiree, the journey with her $20 million Christmas miracle is just beginning, with hopes of spreading the good fortune far and wide.
