Factory workers of nearly 30 years to retire as Canada's biggest lottery winners

By Kate Northrop

Two friends made Canadian Lottery history last week when they split $80.4 million (US$59 million) in Lotto Max winnings, officially making it the largest lottery payout in the nation.

There's a new record for the largest lottery payout ever claimed in Canada, set by two friends who immigrated to the country in the 1990's looking for "a better life for them and their families."

Greg S. and Krys P. of London moved to Canada from Europe over two decades ago in search of better opportunities, not knowing that years down the road, they'd be multi-millionaires with a fortune beyond their wildest dreams.

They first met in an English as a Second Language (ESL) class and both made the move to Canada. They've been playing the lottery together for several years, selectively purchasing tickets when they noticed jackpots climbing high enough to participate and would purchase Quick Picks with an eight-number Combination Play, they told the Ontario Lottery.

Last week, they made lottery history when they claimed an $80 million (US$58.7 million) Lotto Max jackpot from a Lotto Max drawing on Dec. 30, 2025. But since they had also opted for the Lotto Max Combination Play option, they won the second-tier prize in the same draw.

That added another $403,285.40 (US$296,022) to their prize, bringing their total take-home to $80,403,285.40 (US$59 million).

Greg was the one who checked their Lotto Max ticket, and he did so the old-fashioned way with a trusty pen.

"One-by-one, I circled my numbers to see if they matched the winning numbers — until I realized I circled them all," he told Lottery officials. "Then I checked using the OLG app because I didn't know how much we won. I saw the words 'Big Winner' and the number 80, but I didn't believe it at first. It was unbelievable! I checked it again, and I saw the eight, the zeros, and the commas, and I knew it was $80 million!"

He told his wife as soon as he noticed that the ticket matched all the winning numbers and exclaimed that he thought they had won something. The news definitely couldn't wait when it dawned on him that it was a life-changing amount, so the couple told Greg's lottery partner next.

"It was the morning when Greg's wife called to tell me the news — I had just woken up," Krys recalled to Lottery staff. "She asked me if I checked our ticket yet. I checked it with my wife and saw we matched all the numbers. I was very happy, and very nervous too. I went over to Greg's to check the ticket together and shake his hand. He is the one who always took the time to go to the store and buy our tickets."

Having recently retired from a manufacturing job — and never having missed a day of work in 28 years — Greg said he finds himself with a lot of time on his hands now. He'll spend some of that time figuring out what this next stage of life will look like.

"It's not easy to decide what to do right now," Greg said in a press release. "We need a little bit more time. It's surreal. I've been playing for years, but you never expect something like this to happen. Once the initial shock wore off, my focus shifted to planning."

By the time he jointly claimed his prize with Krys, he had already met with a financial advisor to gather advice on how to make the best of his newfound fortune. One of the first things he plans on doing with his winnings is to buy a new home. Spending time with his family is also at the top of his priorities, and it wouldn't hurt to sneak some travel in there, as well.

"I'd like to visit Japan, New Zealand and Australia," he said.

As for Krys, a lifestyle change will be a blast of cold water in the face.

"My life will 100% change," Krys said. "I worked 12‑hour shifts in a factory for 28 years. We learned to live within our means and save our money... I worked hard for my life in Canada. Now I can spend more time traveling and being with my kids. I'm still shocked. I've never seen money like this in my life."

Like Greg, Krys said he wants to use his winnings to purchase a new home. On top of that, he'll likely buy a car and travel to some tropical destinations, but first, he wants to ensure that his family is set up for success.

"Before we do anything, I want to take my time and get advice from the right people," Krys explained. "I don't want to go crazy. I want to listen to my team and make sure we're setting things up properly for future generations."

Happy Day's Mini Mart on Aldersbrook Road in London sold the jackpot-winning ticket for the Dec. 30, 2025 Lotto Max draw, and after years of keeping their nose to the grindstone, the $80.4 million payout feels only fitting.

"We came to Canada many years ago in search of the Canadian dream and a better life," Greg said on behalf of himself and his friend. "Over these years, we have worked hard and built lives we are proud of. We have been fortunate to own our homes and provide our children with education and opportunities for the future. Still, we have always enjoyed dreaming bigger and have been playing the lottery for many years. Winning this prize feels unimaginable — it's amazing!"

"It allows us not only to secure our own future, but that of generations to come," Greg added. "At the same time, we plan to continue living simply, sharing this blessing and enjoying it with the people we love most."

The Lotto Max jackpot currently stands at $55 million (US$40.3 million) for the next drawing on Friday, April 10, 2026. Lotto Max drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

All winning numbers, prizes, and odds are published on Lottery Post's Multi-Province Lottery Results page right after each drawing.

(Click to display full-size in gallery)Greg S. and Krys P. celebrate becoming Canada's record lottery winners.