Will you marry me? I’m a millionaire
One lucky lady’s life is going to be changed forever on Christmas Day, and it might be someone you know.
This follows her partner’s $1 million Lotto first division win last Saturday; he now planned to get on one knee, pop the question and reveal their new fortune.
The Aucklander, who wished to remain anonymous, was one of 44 Kiwis who became overnight millionaires with Lotto NZ’s games this year. He said he was watching Netflix while his partner was asleep in the bedroom when he checked his ticket and found out he had won.
‘‘I just sat on the couch processing everything. I had so many thoughts rushing through my mind,’’ he said.
He controlled his urge to run to the bedroom and wake up his partner. Instead, he started planning how best to surprise her with the news.
‘‘I’ve been planning to propose to my partner for a while, so this win could not have come at a better time. I went to bed that night dreaming up ways to propose. Little did she know that all my tossing and turning was because I’d just won $1m and was hatching a bit of a plan.’’
The man had since ordered the engagement ring.
He admitted it had been killing him to keep this big secret from her, but he did believe it was going to be worth the wait. ‘‘I can’t wait to see her reaction – both to the proposal and then to the news that we’ve won Lotto! It’s going to be a Christmas to remember, that’s for sure.’’ Thus far, 2018 has been the ‘‘second-luckiest’’ year in Lotto NZ history, while 2017 was the ‘‘luckiest’’ year on record, with 52 Kiwis becoming millionaires including 19 Powerball winners.
Lotto NZ spokeswoman Kirsten Robinson said there were still six draws left for the year.
‘‘Who knows; there may be a few more millionaires added to the list,’’ she said.
A young man from Central Otago won the biggest Powerball prize of $22.3 million for 2018 in August. However, the majority of this year’s Lotto millionaires, 16 of the 44, were from Auckland.
Since January the stats are: 76 per cent of winners scooped the big one with a dip; two lucky Lotto players won a $1m with a bonus ticket; 58 per cent of winners said they would keep working after their win; 54 per cent of winners helped their nearest and dearest with their winnings; 37 per cent indulged in some international travel – flying business class, of course; and 32 per cent bought a new house.
I’ve been planning to propose to my partner for a while, so this win could not have come at a better time.