Spaniard wins 126 million-euro in lottery

Source: Xinhuanet | 05-12-2009 17:15

BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhuanet) -- A Spaniard has become one of the richest people in Europe after winning the world’s biggest ever-single lottery prize worth 126 million euros (171.5 million U.S. dollars), lottery organizer EuroMillions said Saturday.

The winner has not yet come forward, said the organizer.

Paloma Cateleiro, owner of the Madrid lottery shop that sold the ticket, said she had no idea who had bought the ticket but suspected the chit might be lying at the bottom of a tourist’s suitcase in some part of Europe.

"A lot of people come through here," she said. "We might never find out who has won it."

EuroMillions is a pan-European lottery, launched in 2004. Initially only the United Kingdom, France and Spain were involved, but lotteries from Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland joined the draw in October 2007.

Draws are held every Friday night, and take place in Paris. A standard EuroMillions ticket costs 2 euros per line played. All prizes, including the jackpot, are tax exempt, except in Switzerland, and are paid in a lump sum.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei