Noel Patricio is not your typical lottery winner. He doesn’t plan to quit his job, buy a mansion, or splurge on luxury cars. He just wants to be himself.
“I want to be the same Noel,” he said.
Patricio is the lucky winner of the record-breaking Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball jackpot, the largest in the game’s history. He won a whopping $68 million in the Sept. 27 draw, but he didn’t let the money get to his head.
He kept working as a housekeeper, even after he found out he had the winning ticket. He only told his immediate family and kept it a secret from his colleagues. He took his time to claim the prize, making sure everything was “in place.”
How did he manage to stay so calm and composed? Here’s his story.
A Regular Player with a Lucky Break
Patricio is a regular player of Lotto 6/49. He bought his ticket while on a break during work, at the Hasty Market on Church Street in Toronto. He didn’t think much of it until he heard that the winning ticket was sold in the same city.
He remembered he had his ticket in his pocket and checked it with the OLG app. He was stunned by what he saw.
“I thought I won $68,000 and called my sister to tell her what I won,” he said. “She asked me to count the zeroes, and I told her there were six of them. That’s when she corrected me and said, ‘That’s $68 million!’”
He couldn’t believe it. He was in shock, but he knew he still had work to do. He snuck into the bathroom to keep checking the winning numbers with his sister still on the phone.
He continued working throughout the day, going into the bathroom to scan his ticket repeatedly.
“All I could think was, ‘Is this a joke? Is this real? Will I wake up from this dream?’” he said.
He finished his first job and checked his ticket several more times between his next shift. It was so unbelievable.
A Humble Winner with a Big Heart
Patricio didn’t rush to claim his prize. He waited for a few days, making sure everything was “in place.” He also wanted to keep the win quiet, only telling his immediate family.
He didn’t tell his colleagues, even when they talked about the winning ticket being sold in Toronto. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself or change his relationships.
He said he plans to continue working in the field of housekeeping, although “a little bit less.”
“I love the work I do and the people I work with, and that’s what makes my two jobs so meaningful to me,” he said.
He also has a big heart. He plans to renovate his current home and take his sisters on a vacation to Italy. He wants to share his fortune with his loved ones and make them happy.
He is also a tennis fan and wants to travel to see Rafael Nadal play live. He said he’d also like to get seasons tickets for the Toronto Raptors. He has some dreams, but he doesn’t want to go overboard.
“I will make more time for myself and work a little bit less, but still keep my job,” he said.
A Grateful Immigrant with a Bright Future
Patricio said he came to Canada with one suitcase and just a few dollars. He worked hard to make a living and support his family. He never expected to win such a huge amount of money.
“It’s unbelievable to think I am here as the Gold Ball Jackpot winner,” he said.
He said he is grateful for his new life and ready to embrace his excitement.
“I am ready to settle into my excitement and live an exciting life,” he said.
Patricio is not your typical lottery winner. He is a humble, hardworking, and generous man who wants to be himself. He is an inspiration to us all.
