Latest news with #MohitSharma
Toronto Star
13-06-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
‘My heart started pounding': Etobicoke consultant wins $65 million in Lotto Max jackpot
When Mohit Sharma scanned his Lotto Max ticket and saw the words 'Big Winner' flash across his phone screen, he could not believe it — so he put on his shoes and went for a walk. Then he came back, scanned it again, and saw the same thing. Sharma, a consultant from Etobicoke, is Ontario's newest multimillionaire, winning $65 million in October's Lotto Max jackpot, a game he began playing regularly in 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a small weekly ritual to have something to look forward to during the lockdowns has paid off, he said in a news release from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Over the past five years, Sharma has been purchasing Lotto Max and Lotto 6-49 tickets with a set budget, always adding Encore and relying on Quick Pick numbers. 'I don't pick the numbers, so, knowing that a random number that the lottery computer picked for me the winner — and my name was on that ticket — is just unbelievable!' he said. After hearing the news that the winning ticket was sold in Etobicoke, Sharma pulled a few tickets from a drawer and scanned them using the OLG app. 'I couldn't believe it and my heart started pounding,' he said. 'My phone screen lit up as the words 'Big Winner' flashed across the screen I thought to myself, 'I guess that person I heard about on the news was me!'' Instead of calling his family right away, Sharma waited until everyone was home so he could share the news face-to-face. 'To say they were shocked is an understatement,' he said. 'It was an emotional moment with lots of trembling hands and elevated heart rates all around.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW With the new-found financial freedom, Sharma says he is ready to make his dream of riding trains across the globe a reality. He has long admired the world's most iconic railways and intends to experience all of them, from the high-speed Shinkansen in Japan to the Indian Pacific that goes from Sydney to Perth, Australia. While the opportunity to ride trains across the world is what Sharma says 'will excite me the most!' the happiness he is sharing with his family is the best part of winning the jackpot. The next Lotto Max jackpot draw is Friday, with an estimated $20-million payout.
CTV News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Interview with GTA man who won $65M lottery jackpot
Northern Ontario Watch Watch the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.'s interview with the latest Lotto Max jackpot winner Mohit Sharma, of Etobicoke.
CTV News
12-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Ontario's newest millionaire won $65M in lottery with ‘quick picks'
Watch the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.'s interview with the latest Lotto Max jackpot winner Mohit Sharma, of Etobicoke. Ontario's newest millionaire says he won his $65 million Lotto Max jackpot with quick pick numbers. Mohit Sharma of Etobicoke, in the Greater Toronto Area, recently collected his prize from the Oct. 15, 2024, lottery draw. Mohit Sharma of Etobicoke won $65M in Lotto Max draw Mohit Sharma won 65 million in Oct. 15, 2024 Lotto Max draw. (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.) (Morgan Kitchen Photography) 'I don't pick the numbers, so, knowing that a random number that the lottery computer picked for me the winner — and my name was on that ticket — is just unbelievable,' Sharma said. 'He started buying lottery tickets in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving himself a weekly routine to look forward to during the lockdowns,' the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. said in a news release Thursday morning. 'He set a budget for himself and purchased Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49 tickets with ENCORE each week.' The man, who works as a consultant, said he had a couple of tickets stored in a drawer. When he heard that a winning ticket was sold in his community, he was in the middle of cooking, so he checked his tickets using the OLG app. 'The first ticket I scanned was the winner! I couldn't believe it and my heart started pounding,' Sharma is quoted as saying in the news release. 'My phone screen lit up as the words 'Big Winner' flashed across the screen I thought to myself, 'I guess that person I heard about on the news was me!'' Mohit Sharma of Etobicoke won $65M in Lotto Max draw Mohit Sharma won 65 million in Oct. 15, 2024 Lotto Max draw. (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.) (Morgan Kitchen Photography) Waited patiently to tell his family To clear his head, he went for a walk before returning home and checking the ticket again. 'Then he began researching how to claim his prize and reading about other big lottery winners,' OLG said. 'Next came the question of how to share the news. Mohit wanted to tell his family immediately, but they were travelling at the time. Not wanting to cause any anxiety or cut their trips short, he decided to wait until they were all back together in person. He patiently waited and continued doing his 'homework' about his new windfall.' When he gathered his family together to reveal the news, he said they were more than shocked. 'It was an emotional moment with lots of trembling hands and elevated heart rates all around,' Sharma said. New Walmart champagne glasses Wanting to celebrate his good fortune with champagne, the family agreed their collection of mismatched glasses would not cut it. 'When we decided we needed proper champagne glasses to toast the great news, the only place still open was Walmart,' he said. 'So, we ran over to buy champagne glasses and raised a glass to my good fortune. We finished the bottle together that night.' Help to manage his money After doing his research, Sharma has assembled a team of professionals to help guide him on how to use his newfound wealth wisely. Part of his plan is to take care of his immediate family -- something described as his dream come true -- and give back to his community and charitable causes close to his heart. 'The best part of winning the lottery is that me and my family are financially free,' he said. 'We don't have to plan or save for holidays or vacations. If I want to travel now, I can. If I want to buy something, I can.' Riding the rails on global adventures Some of his travel plans include riding on some of the world's most iconic trains. 'I have dreamt of travelling on these luxurious and exotic trains. I want to go to Japan to experience one of the world's fastest trains The Shinkansen. I also want to travel on The Indian Pacific that goes from Sydney to Perth, Australia. The famous Orient Express is another on the top of my list, too,' Sharma said. 'I'm excited to see more of Canada when I hop on The Canadian, from Toronto to Vancouver. In addition, I want to ride The Caledonia Sleeper, which crisscrosses the United Kingdom. This is what will excite me the most!' As someone who says he likes to read and learn, Sharma said he is also considering returning to school to complete another degree or diploma. OLG said the winning ticket was purchased at Lakeshore Mini Mart on Lakeshore Boulevard.
Hamilton Spectator
12-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
‘That person I heard about on the news was me': Ontario man claims $65-million Lotto Max prize
An Etobicoke man is planning a global adventure on some of the most luxurious trains after winning a massive $65-million lottery jackpot. Mohit Sharma has long been enamoured with the world's most famous and luxurious trains. Now, as Ontario's newest multimillionaire, his dreams of riding the rails will soon come true after claiming a Lotto Max jackpot of $65 million from the Oct. 15, 2024 draw. During a winner's celebration hosted by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) in Toronto, Sharma noted he started buying lottery tickets in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving himself a weekly routine to look forward to during the lockdowns. Setting a budget, he purchased Lotto Max and Lotto 6-49 tickets with Encore each week, using the OLG's quick pick feature. 'I don't pick the numbers, so, knowing that a random number that the lottery computer picked for me the winner — and my name was on that ticket — is just unbelievable,' Sharma said in a news release. Sharma, who works as a consultant, likes to check his lottery tickets soon after the draw. When he heard on the news that the winning Lotto Max ticket was sold in Etobicoke, he rushed to check the tickets he had stored in a drawer. 'The first ticket I scanned was the winner,' Sharma said. 'I couldn't believe it and my heart started pounding. My phone screen lit up as the words 'Big Winner' flashed across the screen I thought to myself, 'I guess that person I heard about on the news was me.'' Sharma was in the middle of cooking when he discovered he'd won the jackpot. In the intensity of the moment, he doesn't know how he had the clarity to turn off the stove before a fire started in his kitchen. Sharma went on a walk to clear his head. When he returned home, he scanned the ticket again, just to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He then began researching how to claim his prize and read about other big lottery winners. Not wanting to cause any anxiety for his family, Sharma decided to wait and tell them about his win in person. When the time finally came, Sharma gathered his family members together for the big reveal. 'To say they were shocked is an understatement,' he said. 'I had to pinch a couple of them to prove it was real. It was an emotional moment with lots of trembling hands and elevated heart rates all around.' Sharma wanted to share the news over a round of champagne, but the family didn't have proper champagne glasses. The only store still open was Walmart. 'So, we ran over to buy champagne glasses, and raised a glass to my good fortune. We finished the bottle together that night,' Sharma added. With the help of a financial team to manage his new-found wealth, Sharma is now planning to travel and take it easy. He's also exploring ways to give back to his community and support causes close to his heart. Sharma loves to read and learn, and is considering going back to school for another degree or diploma. As for rest and relaxation, he intends to tour the globe as a passenger on some of the world's most iconic trains. 'I have dreamt of travelling on these luxurious and exotic trains. I want to go to Japan to experience one of the world's fastest trains, The Shinkansen,' he added. 'I also want to travel on The Indian Pacific that goes from Sydney to Perth, Australia. The famous Orient Express is another on the top of my list, too.' Sharma also plans to see more of Canada aboard The Canadian, from Toronto to Vancouver. In addition, he plans to to ride The Caledonia Sleeper, which criss-crosses the United Kingdom. 'This is what will excite me the most,' he said. Sharma's winning Lotto Max ticket at Lakeshore Mini Mart on Lakeshore Boulevard West in Etobicoke. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Toronto Sun
12-06-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Etobicoke consultant hitting the rails after $65M Lotto Max win
'I have dreamt of travelling on these luxurious and exotic trains,' Mohit Sharma said Mohit Sharma of Etobicoke won $65-million in the Oct. 15, 2024 Lotto Max draw. Photo by OLG Mohit Sharma will soon be riding the rails in style. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Etobicoke consultant, long fond of the world's most famous and luxurious trains, is Ontario's newest multi-millionaire, having won the $65-million jackpot from the Oct. 15, 2024 Lotto Max draw. 'I heard on the news that the winning ticket was sold in Etobicoke,' Sharma told OLG. 'I had a couple of tickets in a drawer, so I set up the tickets on the table and started scanning them using the OLG app. The first ticket I scanned was the winner! I couldn't believe it and my heart started pounding. My phone screen lit up as the words 'Big Winner' flashed across the screen. I thought to myself, 'I guess that person I heard about on the news was me!'' Sharma wanted to tell his family as soon as possible but they were travelling at the time so he decided to patiently wait until they were all back together in person. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'To say they were shocked is an understatement,' he told OLG. 'I had to pinch a couple of them to prove it was real. It was an emotional moment with lots of trembling hands and elevated heart rates all around.' The family wanted to celebrate with champagne but all they had was a mismatched collection of glasses and it was late in the evening. 'When we decided we needed proper champagne glasses to toast the great news, the only place still open was Walmart. 'So, we ran over to buy champagne glasses, and raised a glass to my good fortune. We finished the bottle together that night.' Sharma began buying lottery tickets in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving himself a weekly routine to look forward to during the lockdowns. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He bought Lotto Max and Lotto 6/49 tickets with Encore each week and always asked the retailer for Quick Pick numbers. 'I don't pick the numbers, so knowing that a random number that the lottery computer picked for me was the winner — and my name was on that ticket — is just unbelievable,' he told OLG. 'The best part of winning the lottery is that me and my family are financially free. We don't have to plan or save for holidays or vacations. If I want to travel now, I can. If I want to buy something, I can.' RECOMMENDED VIDEO Sharma vows to tour the globe as a passenger on some of the world's most iconic trains. 'I have dreamt of travelling on these luxurious and exotic trains,' he told OLG. 'I want to go to Japan to experience one of the world's fastest trains The Shinkansen. I also want to travel on The Indian Pacific that goes from Sydney to Perth, Australia. The famous Orient Express is another on the top of my list, too. 'I'm excited to see more of Canada when I hop on The Canadian, from Toronto to Vancouver. In addition, I want to ride The Caledonia Sleeper, which crisscrosses the United Kingdom. This is what will excite me the most!' Still, Sharma — who is also considering going back to school for another degree or diploma — said there's one thing that has kept him smiling since he realized he won. 'The happiness I'm sharing with my family is the best part of this win,' he said. Sharma bought his winning ticket at Lakeshore Mini Mart on Lakeshore Blvd. W. in Etobicoke. World Celebrity World Sunshine Girls World
