Few moments can take precedence over a father’s focus on his daughter’s wedding. Finding a $20 million winning lottery ticket in your wallet may be one of those exceptions.
Manitoba man, Jerry Knott, is substantially wealthier after winning a $20 million Lotto MAX jackpot draw on Aug.24, 2021.
Knott, from Wasagamack, Man., bought the ticket at Drifters Restaurant and Service in Lac du Bonnet, Man.
He stashed it away in his wallet for safekeeping, then forgot about it for over a month. Returning to celebrate his daughter’s wedding jogged his memory.
“I saw a two and a bunch of zeroes and thought, ‘Cool! I won $20,000,” said Knott to Global News.
“The store retailer looked at me with wide eyes and said, ‘This is the missing ticket!’”
Winnings fund dream project
Knott’s first order of business is to share the dough with his wife and kids.
Beyond that, the lotto-winner said the cash would go toward a family project already in full swing.
A while ago, Knott’s father set up some reserve status land on Big Stone Lake in Northern Manitoba. Knott and his brother plan to build cottages in the area for treatment centres or wilderness experiences.
In total, they’re planning five additional cottages.
“We were inspired by all of the big companies that have come up North to build remote fly-in fishing resorts,” said Knott.
“We thought, ‘If they can do it without even knowing the land, we definitely can too.’”
Knott’s big payday follows record-setting jackpot trend
Amazingly, Knott’s massive payday pales in comparison to other Canadians in recent memory.
On Oct. 21, BCLC revealed Christine Lauzon pulled the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot ticket in Burnaby, BC. The figure ties the record for a big-money lottery win in Canadian history.
Only six other Canadians have previously claimed that amount
It is also the largest prize claimed in BC history.
Keith Spulnick from Fraserwood, Man., also outdid Knott by winning $27.5 million via Lotto 6/49 this summer. That is the third-largest lottery win in Manitoba history and the biggest-ever for Lotto 6/49.
Knott’s winning numbers were 1, 24, 26, 29, 30, 45 and 50.
