A Melbourne cleaner who lost his job due to the pandemic has become Victoria's biggest individual lottery winner after pocketing $80 million.
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The North Melbourne man held the only division one winning entry in Thursday night's Powerball and is now Australia's third-biggest lottery winner.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said he lost his job during one of the earlier lockdowns and had been working as a cleaner to make ends meet
"I lost my job during one of the many lockdowns here in Melbourne. We had only just bought a home and didn't see it coming," he said in a statement.
"Like for so many people, these lockdowns have been really tough for our family. But I've always said, you've just gotta keep trying."
He checked his ticket late on Thursday night and said he "couldn't sleep after that". "It's absolutely unbelievable," he said.
He will use his prize money to set up his children for life and also aims to help as many people as possible.
"I am certainly keen to pay off the mortgage and the other bills we have to begin with," he said.
"There's so much we will be able to do with this prize. It will change so many people's lives."
The winner bought his entry online with the winning numbers 17, 10, 4, 26, 19, 23 and 21 and Powerball number 7.
Australian Associated Press
