A simple wait before dinner turned the lives of a couple from the Dordogne region upside down. Having arrived too early at a restaurant in Périgueux, the couple took advantage of the few minutes they had to pop into a nearby FDJ (Française des Jeux) outlet. Regular EuroMillions players but newcomers to the French Lotto, they tried their luck for the first time. Their ticket won them 10 million euros.
20 minutes to wait before dinner
It all started on Friday, June 26th, in Périgueux. The couple wanted to have dinner at a restaurant but had to wait about twenty minutes for a table. Rather than wait there, they went to a nearby Française des Jeux (French National Lottery) outlet. Regular EuroMillions players, they initially planned to repeat their usual ritual and participate in the evening draw. But that Friday, a special summer Lotto draw was also being held. So they decided to try their luck. A first for them. "We have our rituals with EuroMillions, but this is the very first time we've played Lotto ," the man explained after their win.
They forget to check their ticket for about ten days.
The most surprising part was yet to come. After playing, the couple continued their evening and didn't rush to check the results. The ticket remained unchecked for about ten days. It was during a casual conversation that the two players finally remembered they needed to check their ticket. Upon checking the results, they realized they had won. But they were completely mistaken about the amount: their initial calculations led them to believe they had won around €30,000. A sum they were already planning to use, notably for renovations to their home.
From 30,000 euros to… 10 million
To confirm their win, they contacted Française des Jeux (FDJ). It was then that they discovered the incredible truth: their ticket wasn't worth €30,000, but €10 million. The couple were among the big winners of the special draw on June 26th. Another player, visiting Paris, also won €10 million in the same draw. For the winners from Dordogne, this sum obviously changed everything. Speaking to FDJ, they mentioned the sense of security their newfound fortune brought them. "Relief from no longer having to worry about our future and that of our children. Relief from being able to fully enjoy life with complete peace of mind and do good for others ," they confided. A fortune of €10 million, won on their very first lottery entry, simply because they had 20 minutes to kill before they could sit down at their restaurant table.
