The winners of the January 21 Lotto Max draw are Trang Pham, Phong Phan, Thuc Le, Zou Hsieh, and Suong Tran, pictured from left to right. (Photo by Morgan Kitchen Photography)
Five coworkers from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are celebrating after winning a massive $60 million Lotto Max jackpot. The group bought the lucky ticket to mark the Lunar New Year, hoping for good fortune—and their wish came true.
The winning ticket was purchased by Trang Pham of Mississauga on behalf of her colleagues. She was inspired by the Lunar New Year, a time associated with family, luck, and prosperity in Asian culture. “About a week before Lunar New Year, I was buying creamer for the office and thought I’d pick up a ticket for the group,” Pham recalled.
She bought the ticket at the Giant Tiger store on Kipling Avenue in Etobicoke. The next day, she saw the news that the winning ticket was sold in the same area. She immediately checked their ticket and realized they had won the jackpot.
Pham’s coworkers, including Soung Tran of Mississauga, Phong Phan of Brampton, Thuc Le of Toronto, and Zou Hsieh of Scarborough, were stunned by the news. Each member will now receive $12 million.
Tran remembered the life-changing moment. “I was in a parking lot when I got the text. I thought Trang was joking, so I called her. When she confirmed it wasn’t, I started shaking and crying with joy,” she shared.
Both Hsieh and Le admitted they couldn’t eat or sleep for days after learning they were now multimillionaires. Their excitement became real when Jim Warren, the chair of the OLG’s board of directors, handed them the $60 million cheque. In honor of the Lunar New Year, he presented it in a giant red envelope, symbolizing luck and prosperity.
The group already has plans for their winnings. While Tran wants to take her time before making big decisions, she plans to support causes close to her heart.
Pham dreams of buying a home for her family. “Purchasing a house has been my goal since my parents moved to Canada. They sacrificed so much for me, and now it’s my turn to take care of them,” she said. She also plans to invest and give back to the community.
Le also wants to buy a home for her mother and share her winnings with her family. “I’ll definitely treat myself to a new car too,” she added.
Hsieh and Phan are eager to travel. Hsieh is ready to retire and explore the world. “Last year, I was worried about retirement, but now I don’t have to. I want to see the world, and hopefully catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights,” he said.
Phan, though younger, has no plans to stop working. However, he intends to take time off for some well-earned adventures.
The group’s incredible win is a reminder that sometimes, a small leap of faith—like buying a lottery ticket—can lead to an unimaginable fortune.
