$50M Lotto Max jackpot winner continues going to work at 4:30 a.m.: 'I can’t leave them alone in the dark'
'With the pie crust being on sale at the Super C, my daughter went in to get it and I got the ticket'
A Quebec man who is in his sixties says he has no plans to retire just yet — and is still going to work every day.
Pierre Richer had a lot to be thankful for this past Thanksgiving weekend, when he discovered he had won the $50,000,000 jackpot in the Oct. 6 Lotto Max draw. Despite the life-changing reward, Richer was back at work at 4:30 AM the following Monday, as a driver and head of shipping at a catering company.
“I can’t leave them alone in the dark. Without me there, the shipping department is not feasible,” said Richer at a press conference held by Loto-Québec.
The humble man was simply picking up his Thanksgiving dinner fixings with his daughter, when he decided to purchase a Lotto Max ticket that day. He was at the Super C grocery store on Boulevard Champlain in the city’s LaSalle borough.
“With the pie crust being on sale at the Super C, my daughter went in to get it and I got the ticket,” said Richer.
Coincidentally, if the pie crust hadn’t been on sale, Richer said he wouldn’t have been at the lucky location in the first place.
It was only the day after the draw that his daughter and spouse decided to check the Lotto Max ticket online to see if they had won. Richer’s daughter screamed when she saw that Richer had matched all seven Lotto Max numbers 04, 17, 20, 23, 25, 27 and 41, leading to his big win.
Despite the excitement, Richer barely reacted to his multi-million dollar prize when he was called into the room.
“I walked into the room and they told me,” said Richer. “I said 'OK,' and then walked out.”
Richer said he’ll be able to finally realize his dream of owning a home on the outskirts of Montréal with his winnings, send his family on vacation, and update his car.
With a 40-year career to be proud of, Richer says he’ll be taking some well-deserved “me” time but has no plans to retire anytime soon.
“I feel the same,” said Richer. “Nothing has changed.”
If you'd like to try your luck like Richer, Lotto Max is $5 per play and draws take place on Tuesdays and Fridays.
“Last year, we awarded $1.5 billion to lottery winners," says Loto-Québec President and CEO Jean-François Bergeron. "We’re so proud to be contributing to the community in this way and helping people bring their plans to fruition.”
Tools to stop gambling
If you're looking to take a break from gambling, self-exclusion programs can be effective tools. See here for resources that are available across Canada.
