Saskatchewan Couple Makes History with $40 Million Lottery Win
The Kinzels of Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan are the latest winners of a massive Lotto Max multi million dollar win, making history as the largest lottery prize ever claimed in the province.
The previous record was $25 million awarded to a couple in 2010.
John and Darlene moved to Paradise Hill three years ago to avoid the rat race of the big city and at the time, they purchased a small house where they planned to retire one day.
However, after their massive $40 million win last week, they have decided that there is no waiting for tomorrow for changes in their lifestyle. They will be buying a bigger home to accommodate visits from their three married sons and five grandchildren as a start. Also, John Kinzel won't be waiting until retirement age to quit his job. On the day that he won the lottery, he gave notice at the autobody shop where he worked.
"My boss said 'You're kidding.' I said 'No'. He didn't want me to retire," recalled Kinzel.
The money will also be used to travel "everywhere" around the globe, since John has never put his foot outside of Canada.
The Kinzels intend staying put in Paradise Hill, a small village of under 500 people, roughly 250 kilometers northwest of Saskatoon, which they have grown to love.
Four is the New Lucky Number
The Kinzels have adopted the number four as their new lucky number. Not only did they win $40 million, but all seven numbers drawn in the Lotto Max lottery had a four in them: 4, 14, 24, 41, 43, 46 and 49.
"They just popped into my head and I just scratched them," said John. "I don't know why I picked them, but it was a fortunate day because all the numbers have four in them. I've got two sets of numbers that I pick that's a combination of our birthdays, but for this time, I just picked four sets of numbers and I just picked them. I don't know why."
The top prize of $40,000,020 was presented to the couple last week - with the $20 being their prize for a successful Quick Pick selection as well!
