Over the last decade, fortune has favored numerous Indian lottery enthusiasts who struck gold in both local and international draws. Their windfalls weren’t just modest prizes but often stupendous jackpots that catapulted them into the crorepati league, earning them millionaire status in dollars, no less. These lotteries have not just reshaped their destinies, offering them plush, comfortable lives but also given them the opportunity to extend their generosity to charitable causes.
As we explore the top 15 lottery triumphs in the country, prepare to be inspired, and perhaps, nudged to take a chance at the spinning wheel of fate—because these tales showcase ordinary individuals, embarking on extraordinary financial voyages.
Our first spotlight shines on Ushakiran Patel, the 62-year-old lady who pocketed a neat $1 million from the US Powerball international lottery. Choosing her numbers sans any strategy—relying purely on the lottery’s quick pick option—she won the second prize in the 2018 March draw. After she reconciled with the reality of her win, and the IRS, she welcomed a delightful $633,040 into her bank account.
Then, there’s the saga of Sandeep Singh, also known as Sunny. In a plot twist fit for Hollywood, days after enduring a breakup and juggling dual employment to keep his family afloat, Sunny struck a fortune in the Mega Millions lottery in October 2021. Winning $30.5 million made him the youngest and most prosperous of India’s international lottery winners. His takeaway, a cool $23 million post-tax, pledged him to clear his mother’s home loan and invest in a degree, with a side of philanthropy.
Another headliner is Nandlall Mangal, an Indian from the Caribbean who captivated attention when he won a colossal $245.6 million jackpot from the US Powerball in 2018, becoming one of the most significant winners of Indian descent. Opting for the lump sum, Mangal walked away with nearly $100 million after taxes, dedicated to continuing his work, with dreams of Hawaiian sunsets lingering in his mind.
In the heart of the US, Nirmal Dhamodarasamy, a 23-year-old student, made headlines when his first attempt at the US Powerball handed him a million-dollar win. His plans? To unite his family in celebration for his graduation—an event surely magnified by the surprising turn of his fortunes.
Discretion can accompany winning, as demonstrated by C.J, an anonymous victor from the Austria Lottery in November 2018, who, by nearly grasping the jackpot, secured a considerable €32,161. A dedicated player via theLotter since 2017, C.J’s story personifies the hope and fantasy the lottery typifies for many.
Our next rags-to-riches story unveils Balraj Awasthi’s journey from toiling as a chef to owning a $12 million prize from Lotto 6/49, thus igniting his aspirations to venture into business and indulge in global travel.
Closely following Awasthi’s fortune, Pragnesh Peter Saija, another Indian in Canada, struck gold, claiming a $7 million jackpot from the Daily Grand Lottery, earmarking funds for familial comfort and his children’s unbounded educational future.
Tahir Ali, a diligent Mississauga resident, also joined the millionaire club with $2 million from the Ontario 49 lottery drawing in 2014. The win meant emotional relief and a guarantee of his children’s educational prosperity.
Then there’s the tale of Lingaraju D, a retired health inspector from Karnataka, whose eclectic mix of personal numbers netted him $520,000 from Mega Millions—proving the power of a committed online player when fate favors the bold.
The year 2020 heralded the first Lakhpati from LottoLand, thanks to Partho Mondal’s strategic play at the Malamaal Daily. His modest investment reaped a fortune worth Rs 53 Lakhs, underscoring the adage that sometimes the smallest gambles can yield the most significant returns.
Persistence paved the way to prosperity for Prasanth Parasuraman, whose weekly Lotto 649 endeavors culminated in a $286,791 windfall—a sum far surpassing his initial interpretation. Yet undisclosed plans hinted at a joyous future, likely filled with travel and entrepreneurial dreams.
In an almost cinematic sequence, Mr. Das Gaur’s impromptu lottery ticket purchase—prompted as an afterthought when rain dashed his picnic plans—resulted in a Rs 50 Lakh jackpot, infusing his return home with unexpected ecstasy and the promise of a better life for his offspring.
Destiny played its hand for Porunna Rajan, a community member facing financial strife. A timely lottery investment turned the tables, blessing him with a ₹12 crores windfall from the Christmas-New Year Bumper lottery, mitigating his debts, and allowing for a secure future.
Akshit Kumar Jain, a youthful Playwin Thunderball Lotto player, joined the winners’ pantheon on the 3rd of January, 2017, when his numbers fetched him Rs 2.83 crores—ushering him into an exclusive club populated by Playwin’s crorepatis.
Finally, the unity of six friends working in a jewelry shop evidenced the power of collaboration as their joint lottery participation yielded a jackpot worth ₹12 crores—an epic return on their collected investment that undoubtedly enriched their camaraderie and lives.
In retrospect, these winners embody the high possibilities that lie within the Indian lottery panorama—a realm where chance holds dominion, and the next jackpot could well be awaiting your ticket. Whether you stake your luck on government lotteries or online platforms, the testament of these winners is a beacon of possibility, a call that echoes for anyone ready to dream, play, and potentially walk the golden path they too have trodden.
