How a Filipino-Canadian Won an $80 Million Jackpot

What would you do if the universe suddenly rewards you with three billion pesos? It's an overwhelming hypothetical question, yes, but for 35-year-old Justin Simporios, it's his reality.  

Last May 9, Justin discovered that his Quick Pick Lotto Max ticket was the winning one, earning him 80 million Canadian dollars—the largest individual lottery jackpot in Canadian history.

On his way to Walmart to supposedly buy burger buns, Justin decided to try his luck by spending his remaining 12 Canadian dollars on a lottery ticket. 

That night, Justin heard that the prize-winning ticket had been sold in Surrey, which happens to be his city. Poking fun at the possibility, he jokingly told his wife that they are now millionaires. 

While his wife and daughter were asleep, Justin decided to discreetly check the numbers on his ticket with a flashlight. After reading seven numbers, he started shouting and crying. Indeed, they are now millionaires. 

Before claiming his cheque at a press conference in Vancouver, Justin had one order of business—to resign from his health and safety officer job. "I just threw in my resignation through an email, just an hour, two hours before I had this news conference," he revealed. 

Fighting back his tears, Justin shared his plans with the money. After meeting a financial advisor, he will work on his dream home. He will also help his mother retire, pay off his sister's medical school debt, support his wife's family, and give back to the Surrey community. In addition, he plans to finally watch LeBron James play and more importantly, take his family to the Philippines. 

Having been working in Canada for four years now, Justin calls this win his "generational wealth" moment. "I've been struggling... as a father, you want to balance it out, right? Should I work or should I spend time with my daughter and not have food, right? With this money, I'll be able to spend more time with my daughter, wife, and family. It's awesome, man. I'm just feeling blessed right now," said Justin.