In an unexpected twist of fate, Bernard White, a 79-year-old retired railway employee from Oshawa, Canada, believed he had won $40,000 in the LOTTO MAX draw held on February 21. However, much to his shock, he discovered that his ticket was worth an incredible $40 million!
For years, Bernard White had been purchasing two lottery tickets every week — one for himself and one for his daughter. He would always tell his daughter to pick one of the tickets before he went to bed. This time, she picked the wrong one — or so he thought.
“Before I go to bed, I always tell her to pick one. This time, she picked the wrong one,” White said with a smile, recalling the moment he discovered his incredible fortune.
The next morning, while the sun was still down, Bernard’s daughter knocked on his bedroom door, claiming that he had won $40,000. Initially, Bernard brushed it off, thinking it was just another prank. “That’s great,” he replied, “Now we can pay off both our cars.”
However, a few minutes later, there was another knock on the door. This time, Bernard’s daughter had an even bigger surprise for him: “Um…Dad, I think you won $40 million!”
Despite the initial disbelief, Bernard was too excited to go back to sleep. But the excitement didn’t stop there. As Bernard told his long-time partner, she didn’t believe him either, thinking it was just another of his pranks. After showing her the ticket, she was finally convinced, but Bernard admitted that it felt surreal to say, “I won $40 million.”
With his newfound wealth, Bernard White plans to purchase a new fishing rod and a set of $3,000 speakers for his music. However, most of the $39,996,800 will be used to support his family and several health organizations. He also intends to take a cruise around Newfoundland, his birthplace.
"My daughter means a lot to me because, when my late wife and I had her, she was the only child we could have. She’s going to be well taken care of,” White said, emphasizing his plans to help his daughter financially.
Despite the enormous amount of money, Bernard White remains grounded, focusing on helping his family, supporting important causes, and enjoying his life. His story is a reminder that life can surprise you in the most extraordinary ways.