A man from Whitemouth has won $46 million.
Earl Giesbrecht is the winner of the May 16 LOTTO 6/49 jackpot, the largest in Manitoba history.
Giesbrecht says he took his ticket to the store to scan it and, at first glance, did not fully recognize the size of the prize.
"I didn't know I won, but I did see that someone in Manitoba had, so I wanted to check my ticket," he explains. "I thought it was $46,000 at first."
Giesbrecht says when he started counting the zeroes, the cashier told him that it was actually $46 million.
"I just about fell over," he says.
Giesbrecht says the shock of winning Manitoba's record-breaking jackpot had him stunned into silence in the store.
"I thought I was going to have a heart attack," he says. "I had to call my brother just to come and sit with me in the store. I didn't think I could even drive myself home."
Soon after Giesbrecht discovered his win, many others in the area did too.
"I think the whole town already knows I've won," he laughs. "News spreads fast."
Giesbrecht already has plans for some of his winnings. He intends to buy a house and help his children.
"I'm also going to pay my ex-wife's mortgage off," he says. "We were together many years, and we still talk."
Giesbrecht said he has also spoken to his bank about a plan for managing the majority of his winnings.
"I don't have many big plans because I've never had money like this," he admits. "It feels fantastic though, it's unbelievable. I'm giddy."
Giesbrecht, who is semi-retired, says he is now considering becoming fully retired.
Giesbrecht purchased his winning LOTTO 6/49 ticket from First Stop Grocers at 115 Railway Avenue in Whitemouth.
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