In Foshan, Guangdong Province, Mr. Wang’s lottery win did not unfold like a dramatic rags-to-riches tale, but rather like an extension of his ordinary life. After more than a decade of buying lottery tickets using combinations based on his family members’ birthdays, he finally hit the jackpot on January 14, 2026. With a “5+12” multiple-entry ticket costing 132 yuan, he won a pre-tax prize of 8.36 million yuan. Yet the moment that truly captured public attention was not the numbers themselves, but what he did next.
When Mr. Wang learned of the win, he was working a night shift. He called his wife to share the news, only to be met with disbelief, “Is this fake?” she asked. To reassure her, he went home, handed over the physical ticket, and then calmly returned to his post to finish the night’s work. The following day, he completed the formal prize claim, paid 1.672 million yuan in taxes, and took home roughly 6.69 million yuan. His wife, overwhelmed by excitement, reportedly could not sleep that night. Mr. Wang, by contrast, remained composed throughout, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
His attitude toward the money was equally straightforward. He stated without hesitation that the entire sum would be managed by his wife, adding that he would continue working as usual and keep his long-standing, rational approach to lottery purchases. For him, choosing family birthdays was never about strategy but about emotion, a quiet ritual tied to family bonds. “She manages the money, I keep doing my job,” he explained, framing the decision not as a grand gesture, but as a natural extension of how their marriage already functioned.
Online, this simplicity ignited a storm of discussion. Many praised Mr. Wang as an embodiment of trust and responsibility, contrasting his openness with cases where lottery winners concealed prizes from spouses and later lost in court. To supporters, handing over the winnings was not naive but wise, a “low-key expression of devotion” that showed how shared finances can reinforce marital stability. Others, however, were skeptical. Some questioned whether his calm demeanor felt too scripted, especially against the backdrop of recent controversies involving lottery errors and public trust in the industry. To them, the story sounded less like coincidence and more like a carefully packaged piece of positivity.
Some online comments are:
“Another ad.”
“Tricking me into buying lottery tickets again.”
“Not even pretending anymore?”
“You can fool me, just don’t go too far.”
“You should go work at the lottery center, probably just a junior clerk, right?”
“What kind of move is this?”
“Please stop making up stories. Fine, I’ll buy, I’ll buy, okay?”
