Whitemouth, Manitoba local Earl Giesbrecht won a record $46 million LOTTO 6/49 Gold Ball jackpot and plans to buy a home, help his children and retire.
A Whitemouth, Manitoba local is celebrating the biggest LOTTO 6/49 win in Manitoba history after discovering he had won a staggering $46 million on the May 16 Gold Ball draw.
Earl Giesbrecht initially had no idea just how much he had won when he took his ticket to a local store to check it. He knew someone in Manitoba had won the jackpot and wanted to find out whether the winning ticket was his, but the amount displayed did not immediately register.
“I didn’t know I won, but I did see that someone in Manitoba had so I wanted to check my ticket,” he explained.
At first, Giesbrecht thought he had won $46,000. “I thought it was $46 thousand at first!” he said. “When I started counting the zeroes, the cashier said, ‘It’s actually $46 million,’ and I just about fell over!”
The size of the win left Giesbrecht stunned in the store. He said he was so overwhelmed that he called his brother to come and sit with him. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack,” he said. “I had to call my brother just to come and sit with me in the store. I didn’t think I could even drive myself home!”
The news did not stay quiet for long in Whitemouth, a small Manitoba community where Giesbrecht said word of the win quickly spread. “I think the whole town already knows I’ve won,” he laughed. “News spreads fast!”
Giesbrecht is now looking ahead to how the $46 million could benefit both himself and his family. One of his first plans is to buy a house, while also helping his children and paying off his ex-wife’s mortgage.
“I want to buy a house, and then I’m going to help my children,” he said. “I’m also going to pay my ex-wife’s mortgage off. We were together many years and we still talk.”
Giesbrecht has already spoken to his bank about a plan for managing the majority of his winnings. Despite the size of the prize, he says he does not have an extensive list of plans yet.
“I don’t have many big plans because I’ve never had money like this,” he admitted. “It feels fantastic though—it’s unbelievable! I’m giddy!”
The win may also change Giesbrecht’s plans for retirement. He is currently semi-retired and is considering whether the $46 million could bring forward the decision to stop working completely.
“I’m currently semi-retired,” he said. “And now I’m thinking about maybe becoming fully retired… we’ll see!”
Giesbrecht’s $46 million Gold Ball prize is the largest LOTTO 6/49 win in Manitoba history. The previous provincial record was a $27.5 million win on the May 12, 2021 draw.
The winning ticket was purchased at First Stop Grocers, 115 Railway Avenue in Whitemouth, Manitoba. Giesbrecht won the May 16 LOTTO 6/49 Gold Ball draw with selection 24182524-02, the gold ball.
