Overnight Millionaires: Residents of a Belgian Village Win a €143 Million EuroMillions Jackpot

The quiet, rural life of residents in the small Belgian village of Olmen, located in the province of Antwerp, was forever changed when 165 villagers shared a massive EuroMillions jackpot of €143 million (approximately 3.5 billion CZK). This extraordinary event has not only made the villagers millionaires overnight, but also represents one of the most significant group lottery wins in the history of EuroMillions.

The Unlikely Victory

Winning a lottery is a dream that many people around the world cherish, but the odds of winning, especially in a transnational lottery like EuroMillions, are astronomically low. To put this into perspective, the chance of a single person winning a EuroMillions jackpot is about 1 in 139 million. Yet, the residents of Olmen, a village with a population of roughly 3,000 people, defied these odds in spectacular fashion.

What made their victory even more remarkable is the fact that 165 people decided to pool their resources and buy a single EuroMillions ticket. Their group bet paid off beyond their wildest imaginations when their ticket hit the winning numbers for a €143 million jackpot. The Belgian National Lottery, which confirmed the win, reported that each participant in the group would walk away with approximately €868,000 (around 2.1 million CZK).

A Life-Changing Event

According to a report from BBC, the news of the win spread like wildfire throughout the village. However, not all winners reacted the same way. While some were filled with joy and disbelief, others were more reserved, perhaps processing the magnitude of the event. The local news outlet Reuters interviewed Wim Van Broekhoven, the owner of the newsstand where the winning ticket was purchased. Van Broekhoven revealed that he had to repeat the news of the victory several times to some of the winners because they simply couldn’t believe their luck. “People didn’t want to believe me,” he said in a local radio interview.

The winners came from all walks of life, representing different social classes. “But I think the money will be very welcome for everyone, especially considering the ongoing energy crisis,” Van Broekhoven added. Indeed, as Europe grapples with soaring energy prices and economic uncertainty, this windfall couldn’t have come at a better time for many in the community.

While the identities of the winners are being kept private for now, in a small village like Olmen, secrets like these are hard to keep. However, according to Van Broekhoven, no one in the village begrudges the winners their newfound fortune. On the contrary, the win is being celebrated by the entire community. “Everyone is happy for them,” he said.

In one instance, a young woman who was part of the winning group shared with local media that she plans to use her winnings to buy a small house for herself and her dog, a dream that may have been out of reach without this incredible stroke of luck.

The Largest Group Win in Belgian History

According to Joke Vermoere, a spokesperson for the Belgian National Lottery, group lottery wins are not uncommon in the country. Many communities and groups of friends often pool their money together to buy tickets, hoping to increase their chances. However, this particular win is by far the largest group lottery win in Belgium’s history.

The winning numbers that brought fortune to the residents of Olmen were 12, 20, 25, 26, and 27, with the so-called “Lucky Star” numbers being 8 and 12.

Not the Largest Jackpot in EuroMillions History

While the win in Olmen is historic for Belgium, it doesn’t represent the largest jackpot ever won in EuroMillions. That title belongs to a British player who, in July 2022, won a staggering £195 million (around €230 million). Just two months prior, in May 2022, another lucky British couple had won £184 million. In fact, the UK seems to be a hotbed of lottery luck, with yet another British player winning £171 million in September of the same year, according to The Guardian.

These colossal sums dwarf the Belgian group’s win, but it doesn’t take away from the remarkable nature of their victory. In a world where individual lottery wins make the headlines, a collective win like this—especially in such a small and tight-knit community—reminds us of the power of collaboration and shared dreams.

The EuroMillions Phenomenon

The EuroMillions lottery, which was launched in 2004, is one of the most popular and high-profile lotteries in Europe. Unlike national lotteries that are restricted to individual countries, EuroMillions operates across multiple European nations, allowing for significantly larger jackpots. Tickets are sold in nine countries: Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg.

The transnational nature of EuroMillions allows for a large pool of participants, which in turn leads to the creation of jackpots that can grow to life-changing sums. The lottery operates on a twice-weekly draw, with numbers drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays. The jackpots start at €17 million and can roll over for weeks if no one wins, resulting in the massive jackpots that often grab headlines.

A Moment of Joy Amid Global Uncertainty

In an era of economic challenges, the win for the Olmen villagers serves as a heartwarming story. With inflation and rising living costs making life difficult for many people across Europe, the sudden windfall has brought not only financial security to the winners but also a sense of hope to the wider community. As Van Broekhoven mentioned, the money will be especially useful during the ongoing energy crisis, which has put significant financial strain on households across Europe.

What Comes Next?

For the winners of Olmen, the coming weeks and months will likely involve adjusting to their new financial reality. Some may choose to invest their winnings, while others may use the money to make long-held dreams come true, like buying a home or traveling the world.

Despite the life-changing nature of the win, many in the community seem determined to remain grounded. While the excitement of such a significant windfall is undeniable, the winners are expected to stay closely connected to their community, as small-town life often fosters deep, lifelong relationships that no amount of money can replace.