What Brandon G. assumed was a modest five-figure lottery prize turned out to be a life-changing $10-million jackpot — though it took a second glance at his screen to realize the magnitude of his good fortune.
The King City resident discovered his windfall while sitting in the bleachers at a family member's baseball tournament, according to an Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation release issued Thursday. He had logged into his OLG account after receiving multiple emails from the organization, initially dismissing some as spam.
His ticket matched all the numbers in the May 29 Lotto Max draw, but the initial realization didn't quite register.
"I initially thought I'd won $10,000. Then I noticed the extra zeros and realized it was $10 million," Brandon said in the OLG release.
Breaking the news to his partner proved challenging given their public surroundings. Brandon waited until he could pull them aside for a private conversation away from the crowd of spectators.
"We were both in disbelief. It was exciting, but we knew it wouldn't feel real until the $10 million hit my bank account," he said in the release.
Despite the massive payday, Brandon indicated he has no plans to leave his job. The money represents long-term stability for his family rather than an immediate lifestyle overhaul, he explained.
Most of the winnings will be invested, though the family does have some adventures planned. Their travel list includes touring baseball stadiums throughout the United States and making the journey to Edmonton to catch an Oilers game. International destinations Italy and Greece are also under consideration.
For Brandon, the win carries emotional weight beyond the financial impact. He and his late father shared a tradition of checking lottery tickets together — a simple ritual that created meaningful moments between them.
"While it may seem like a small thing, it was always fun spending time together checking our tickets. My dad would have really enjoyed this win," Brandon said in the release.
