Canada's newest Lotto Max winners are sharing a massive $70 million jackpot!
They're strangers who just happened to match the same numbers, and now they're multimillionaires.
It was announced that Jacques Deschamps of Montérégie and Wilhelmina Van Leeuwen of Montreal won the $70 million jackpot in the Lotto Max draw on July 11, 2025.
Since both of their tickets matched all seven numbers for the jackpot, they're splitting the $70 million.
That means Deschamps and Van Leeuwen each get $35 million!
Deschamps bought his winning ticket at the Chanteclerc convenience store in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, and Van Leeuwen bought hers at the Dépanneur du Village in Montreal.
The Lotto Max winning numbers were 4, 5, 10, 34, 36, 44 and 50 for the draw on July 11.
Deschamps regularly buys Lotto Max tickets and always gets Extra added on.
He checked his tickets with the Loto-Québec app while drinking his coffee like he usually does on Saturday mornings after the Lotto Max draw.
Deschamps first thought he won $3,500, but looked again and thought it was $35,000.
So, he asked his partner to check the ticket to make sure it was a winner. She scanned the ticket on her phone and said, "You won $35 million."
He immediately sent a photo of the winning ticket to his son, but he was still asleep.
Then, Deschamps called his son's home and asked his daughter-in-law to wake him up because he had great news to share.
Now that he's a multimillionaire, Deschamps plans to spoil his family and travel to explore the world.
He also wants to buy a condo in Montreal with his winnings.
Jacques Deschamps and Wilhelmina Van Leeuwen with a $70 million Lotto Max cheque.Loto-Quebec
Van Leeuwen only found out she was the winner of the other half of the $70 million jackpot on Tuesday, July 15.
That evening, she went to a store to have a few lottery tickets checked.
After her Lotto Max ticket was scanned, the store worker said, "You're going to be happy."
The next morning, Van Leeuwen was at the Loto-Québec headquarters to get her cheque!
She wants to use some of the $35 million to travel, and she's going to book first-class trips now.
If you or someone you know is struggling with problem gambling, refer to these helplines across Canada. Support is available.