Canadian teen’s first lottery ticket brings $48 million jackpot win

This is the stuff that most young (and old) dreams are made of, but in the case of 18-year-old Juliette Lamour from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, they turned real too. 

She has set a record as the youngest winner of a 48 million Canadian dollar (36 million USD) lottery jackpot in the country, all with her very first ticket purchase.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLGC), commenting on the development, explained that while there had been other 18-year-old lottery winners across Canada in recent years, no one had won as much as Juliette.

“When I went to the store, I wasn’t sure what to ask for because I had never bought a ticket before, so I called my dad who told me to buy a Lotto 6-49 quick pick. I still can’t believe I hit the gold ball jackpot on my very first lottery ticket,” she said about the wonderful experience. 

Lamour said she had forgotten about it until she heard the news that someone from her hometown had won the 7 January draw.

How does she plan to spend the money? 

Well, Lamour plans to wisely invest most of her winnings with the assistance of her father, a financial advisor. Despite her desire to travel once her studies are complete, she aims to return to northern Ontario to complete her education and become a doctor, with the goal of giving back to her community through medical practice.

She said that once she’s done with the school, she and her family will “pick a continent and start exploring.”

“I want to experience different countries, study their history and culture, try their food, and listen to their language,” she added. “Money doesn’t define you. It’s the work you do that will define you.”