A Record Breaking $80 Million Lotto Max Jackpot Win Started with a Missing Ingredient

Surrey Man Takes Home the Biggest Lottery Win in Canadian History

It was a regular night for Surrey resident, Justin S., and his family. They were settling down to watch a playoff basketball game, and what goes better with basketball than burgers? He was preparing all the ingredients to make burgers for dinner when he realized that he was missing a few key ingredients. Little did he know that on his trip to the grocery store he would come home with a lot more than just cheese and hamburger buns.

So, he headed to Walmart in Central City to grab the missing ingredients. On his way out of the store, he noticed the Lotto! stand. He looked in his wallet and realized that he received the exact amount of change from his shopping trip to buy a ticket, and on a whim, he did.

That spontaneous decision would change his life forever.

Later that night, around 10:30 p.m., Justin saw that the $80-million Lotto Max jackpot had been won in Surrey. He joked with his wife, saying, “We’re millionaires!” But curiosity got the better of him.

He manually checked each number on his ticket, and one by one, the winning numbers matched. All five of them! He was in utter disbelief. Just to be sure, he scanned his ticket using the BCLC Lotto! App. And there it was, in big letters “WINNER”, confirming yet again that his wildest dream had come true.

He cried out in disbelief. His wife, who had been resting, was skeptical at first. But the win was real.

Justin had just won the largest lottery prize ever won by a single person in Canadian history.

The magnitude of the moment didn’t distract Justin from what mattered most. His first thoughts were about his family, how he could help his mother retire early, support his sister through medical school, and give his wife and daughter the time and opportunities they deserved. He also spoke about giving back to the community in Surrey and across B.C., sharing that he’s experienced struggle and wants to help others who are going through the same.

Justin’s dreams are grounded in purpose. He’s always been a Lakers fan, and one of the things he’s most excited about is the chance to see LeBron James play live before he retires. He’s also planning a long-overdue trip to the Philippines for a family reunion, and plans to bring his wife and daughter, as they have never been.

But more than anything, Justin is looking forward to having more time. Time to be present with his family. Time to live with intention. Time to give back.

His story is a powerful reminder that life-changing moments can come from the most ordinary decisions. A quick trip to the store. A last-minute ticket. A moment that changed everything.