A remarkable turn of fate has seen a 28-year-old man hailing from Guizhou province in southwestern China emerge as the winner of a colossal 680 million yuan (equivalent to USD 96 million) lottery jackpot, marking the largest windfall in the country's history. Reports from the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post revealed this extraordinary win, which has captivated the nation.
The fortunate winner, whose identity remains undisclosed as per routine protocol for prize recipients, made a strategic investment in 133 lottery tickets, each priced at two yuan (USD 28 cents) apiece. Placing his bets on a consistent set of seven numbers across all tickets, his calculated gamble paid off handsomely when each of his entries secured a prize of 5.16 million yuan (USD 725,000), as reported by the local television station.
Upon learning of his monumental win, the jubilant victor expressed his overwhelming excitement, admitting that the news was so electrifying that it left him unable to sleep. With eager anticipation, he promptly proceeded to claim his prize money from the provincial welfare lottery center on February 7.
Under the provisions of the Individual Income Tax Law, the recipient is obligated to remit one-fifth of his lottery earnings in taxes. Despite the initial disbelief at his stroke of luck, the man recounted his meticulous selection process for the winning numbers, attributing his success to careful analysis of past winning combinations and the inclusion of his own cherished lucky digits.
Reflecting on his long-standing practice of betting on this particular set of numbers, the newly minted millionaire expressed plans to share the joyous news with his family during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday. His extraordinary jackpot of 680 million yuan surpasses China's previous record of 570 million yuan (USD 81 million), secured by a resident of Beijing in 2012.
While lottery wins often spark public interest and speculation, recent instances of substantial prizes have elicited scrutiny. In December of the previous year, a resident of eastern Jiangxi province triggered public suspicion after claiming a 200 million yuan prize following a significant investment in lottery tickets. Similarly, a man from the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region faced criticism for withholding news of his 218 million yuan (USD 40 million) windfall from his family, fearing it would diminish their work ethic.
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