Canberra man finds winning $40m Powerball ticket

A Canberra man has just discovered he is $40m richer after finding out via a television news report that he was the mystery Powerball winner.

The man, from Woden, just south of Canberra’s CBD, was the sole winner of the Powerball draw 1571 on June 25.

However, he only just discovered he was the winner, some two weeks after the draw.

The Lott officials had been waiting for the mystery winner to come forward after his winning ticket wasn’t registered to a player card or online account.

The man heard the news about the unclaimed ticket belonging to a Canberra resident and decided to check his ticket, telling The Lott he is “still in shock.

“I just can’t believe it. I had no idea until a couple of days ago,” he said.

“I had completely forgot about my ticket until I saw on the news that they were looking for a winner with an unregistered ticket. I thought, ‘Maybe it’s me!’

“The ticket had just been sitting in my wallet this whole time. I really still can’t believe it.”

The man admitted he would continue to work despite the mammoth winnings and would save the prize to set up generational wealth.

“I still plan to work. It’ll more be there for future children and grandchildren,” he said.

“I’m so happy. Thank you so much!”

His winning ticket was bought at the Thistle Kiosk in Woden.

Store owner Rudy Lu said the newsagency was no stranger to selling major prize-winning tickets, having sold seven division one winning entries during the past two decades.

Among the winning tickets was one prize of $4.8m that remains unclaimed from the Set for Life draw 2072 back in April 2021.

“I took over the business two years ago and have sold two division one winning entries here; however, the business is long established and has sold over 20 division one winning entries in the past 50 years,” Mr Lu said.

“When I saw the news there was an unregistered winner in Canberra, I had a feeling it was us that sold it.

“Congratulations to the winner, we wish you all the best and hope you spend it wisely.”

The winning numbers in Powerball draw 1571 were 7, 29, 25, 18, 26, 23 and 17. The Powerball number was 16.

In 2025, more than 121.6 million winners took home more than $3.93bn in prize money, The Lott said.