Ontario pals share Canadian record $80M Lotto Max jackpot: 'It was unbelievable'
· Toronto Sun
A pair of London, Ont. friends made Canadian lottery history after winning a record $80 million Lotto Max jackpot.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation said a ticket bought by Greg S. and Krys P. matched all of the numbers from the Dec. 30, 2025 draw, making them instant millionaires.
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The OLG announced earlier this month that the jackpot was claimed months later , but didn’t disclose the identities of the winners until now.
“One-by-one I circled my numbers to see if they matched the winning numbers – until I realized I circled them all,” Greg said.
He immediately told his wife that he won something, but was unsure how much.
“Then I checked using the OLG app because I didn’t know how much we won,” Greg said. “I saw the words Big Winner and the number 80 but I didn’t believe it at first. It was unbelievable. I checked it again and I saw the eight, the zeros and the commas and I knew it was $80 million.”
Duo immigrated from Europe
The duo, who immigrated from Europe to Canada in the 1990s and became friends while taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, also won a secondary prize of $403,285.40 after opting for the Lotto Max Combination Play.
They will share their winnings equally.
Krys said he was told about the winning ticket the morning after the draw by Greg’s wife.
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“She asked me if I checked our ticket yet,” Krys said. “I checked it with my wife and saw we matched all the numbers. I was very happy, and very nervous too.”
He then went to Greg’s home to confirm the life-changing news.
“I went over to Greg’s to check the ticket together and shake his hand,” he said. “He is the one who always took the time to go to the store and buy our tickets.”
Taking time to decide what to do next
Greg recently retired from a manufacturing job and said he will take his time to decide what to do next. Krys has spoken with a financial adviser on how to invest his half of the winnings, adding he wants to purchase a new home and car, spend more time with the family, and looks forward to travel the world.
Both say they want to ensure their families are taken care of financially for generations to come.
“We came to Canada many years ago in search of the Canadian dream and a better life,” Greg said. “Over these years, we have worked hard and built lives we are proud of. We have been fortunate to own our homes and provide our children with education and opportunities for the future.”