Jonathan R. and Mylene P., siblings from Toronto, have made history as the first brother-sister duo to win a major lottery jackpot with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), taking home $75 million from a Lotto Max draw.
A life-changing discovery
The siblings, whose last names were withheld per OLG's new privacy policy, have been playing the lottery together for nearly two years, choosing numbers with special significance to their families. Jonathan discovered their win from the March 3 draw while checking their ticket on the OLG app early one morning.
“At first I thought we won $75,000. My eyes were still sleepy,” Jonathan told OLG. “When I put on my glasses to take a second look, I noticed there were more zeros and I was so happy!”
He woke his sister with the news, and Mylene said she began crying tears of joy. “He showed me his phone screen, and I also thought we won $75,000 until he told me to count the zeros,” she told OLG. “Once I realized it was $75 million, I was so excited. It was unbelievable! I’ve always dreamt of something like this but never imagined it would come true. But finally it has!”
Convincing the family
Jonathan’s wife initially did not believe him. “I guess because I played jokes on her before, she thought it was not real,” he told OLG. “With Mylene’s help, we finally convinced her it was true, and she was overwhelmed and emotional.”
Plans for the windfall
Jonathan said he is looking for a property to build a large home where his family can grow together and also wants to build a small chapel as part of his legacy of helping others. “So many generations will benefit from this windfall,” he told OLG. “I’m so grateful for everything this means. We came to Canada for a better life for ourselves and our families. My main priority is taking care of my parents, my wife, and my children. My children will have their education paid for. I want them to have the best of the best.”
Mylene, who worked as a cleaner, said her family is her main priority. “This win is life-changing — not only for us, but also for our children,” she told OLG. “I’ve always dreamt of building a home of my own, and I’m looking forward to making that a reality. I made my living cleaning beautiful houses, and now I can clean my own new beautiful home. My heart is full of so much love and joy. This win is a dream come true!”
Travel plans and celebration
The siblings also want to travel. Mylene is especially looking forward to visiting Germany, Austria and Japan, as well as planning a big family vacation to bring together their spouses, parents and children. “We want to travel across Canada. There’s so much beauty in discovering this incredible country we’re proud to call home,” she told OLG.
The $75-million winning Lotto Max ticket was purchased at Drewry’s Variety on Drewry Ave. in North York. The win marks a rare occurrence of siblings sharing a major lottery prize, and the duo expressed gratitude for the opportunity to support their families and give back.
