EuroMillions. He wins 166 million euros thanks to… a broken phone: “I thought I was dreaming”

Hitting the jackpot is everyone’s dream. And for the couple of French winners of the EuroMillions draw on April 30, 2024, win more than 166 million euros was a matter of luck…and broken phone screen.

In a press release published Wednesday May 22, 2024 by Française des Jeux (FDJ) and sent to -.frthe couple says behind the scenes of their incredible win and the key to success: using a phone whose screen was broken and hindered the choice of numbers.

“The only numbers I could select on my screen”

It all dates back to April 30. The couple – who wished to remain anonymous – were not even together, as each was in a different city. Ten minutes before the end of normal time to play EuroMillions, the husband tries his luck on the Internet.

It must be said that the prize pool was particularly attractive that Tuesday: 166,790,050 euros, all the same! The husband rushes to fill out a grid on his phone. But, bad luck (or happy coincidence?), the screen of this one is broken.

“I chose the numbers because they were the only ones I could select on my screen. The clock had started,” recalls the happy multimillionaire. “Above all, I wanted to validate my grid before the end of regulation time. »

Packed, it’s weighed: he ends up validating his grid in a hurry. And cross your fingers.

“I needed to watch again and again”

The news came the next morning, and it was big: despite his phone playing tricks on him and the grid being completed a bit at the last minute, it was he who won the EuroMillions jackpot.

The man, at first, doesn’t believe it and imagines having “only” won 166,000 euros. But no, it is indeed 166 million euros, the 4^e biggest EuroMillions winnings won in France (the podium is held by a winner in French Polynesia, with nearly 220 million euros won on October 15, 2021), and the 2nd biggest gain on the internet.

I thought I was dreaming. I needed to watch again and again. I asked my son who was with me to check together.

It is now a matter of announcing the (very) good news to his wife. He decides to build up the suspense a little and calls her to first tell her: “we have a surprise!” », without further information.

“There is a winner in our village… It’s us”

The day passes. Then, in the evening, he returns to the charge – and takes “care to sit it down”, he explains to the FDJ. “Does the Française des Jeux mean anything to you? », he asks his wife of more than 30 years.

There is a winner in our village… It’s us.

Time to digest the news, his wife asks for explanations. Especially since “the figures did not correspond to our usual grid”, she told the FDJ. “Now I understand better why,” she adds.

What to do now with these more than 166 million euros? The couple has many plans, with travel and “probably buying a house by the sea” in mind. Oh, and last but not least: change your phone!

Gambling involves risks: debt, isolation, dependence. For help, call 09 74 75 13 13 (non-premium rate call).

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