Lotto Survey Reveals Big Winners Secrets

Media release

13 August 2007

Horticulture and farm workers, taxi and truck drivers and office workers are the luckiest professions in New Zealand according to a NZ Lotteries' survey of past big Lotto winners.

The survey, of 75 past big winners (who had won between $400,000 and $15 million plus), shows that nine percent worked in the farming or horticulture sector, while a significant five percent were truck or taxi drivers. Thirteen percent were office workers.

The survey asked Lotto Family* winners a range of questions about their win – such as what they spent their money on, how they felt after winning, and advice they would give other winners having been through the experience themselves.

Keeping their ticket secure until they can cash it in brought out some winners' inventiveness. Some winners sellotaped the ticket to their chest, and more than one female winner stored it in her bra!

From buying a bach, to going buffalo hunting in Australia - the survey shows that winning the top prize enables some expected - and unexpected - dreams to come true.

Understandably bubbly and celebrations usually take precedence, with the most common item that winners buy first after a big win is a nice bottle of wine or a meal (23 percent). Nineteen percent of winners make a car their first purchase.

After the first splurge, Kiwi winners indulge their love of property with buying houses or renovating (at 54 percent) and paying off debt, with 13 percent also spending money on travel, and seven percent spending the largest proportion on their family.

Unusual items purchased with winnings include a couple who paid for fertility treatment and now have a young daughter, a marble statue, cosmetic surgery, and some winners spent their money on more modest items such as fish smokers or a ride-on lawnmower.

"The survey shows the way that Lotto can change people's lives," says NZ Lotteries' Chief Executive Todd McLeay.

"Once winners have got over the shock of becoming wealthier, they have splashed out both practical and indulgent items that they have often wanted for a long time. Many have a lot of fun doing more unusual things like buffalo hunting, while others, like the couple who paid for fertility treatment, have been able to enhance their family life."

"When asked what have been the best things about winning, many big winners talked about securing their future, helping their family or having financial freedom. Many winners pay off mortgages, or purchase a property. A big win has clearly transformed lives for the better, with one winner telling us the best thing about winning was: "Feeling really happy within myself and being able to buy things that I have really really wanted for a long time"."

Random extravagance does also have its place, with one woman buying a pair of Prada shoes which gave her blisters and she hasn't worn since, while another bought a flash new fridge without checking whether it fitted in her kitchen – it didn't.

Lottery winners are optimists as well. Nearly all winners surveyed (90 percent) said they still purchase Lotto or other NZ Lottery products weekly or frequently, and seven percent said "sometimes". Only two people (2.7 percent of the sample) said that they do not buy Lottery products any more.

ENDS