A North Queensland man has offered a rare glimpse into the life of a major lotto winner, revealing the big ticket items he has spent millions on.
In 2019, Cliff Little from Cairns became an overnight millionaire after striking and collecting the entire $40 million Powerball jackpot.
Speaking to 9 News, Mr Little revealed he spent some of his new fortunes on racehorses and a sports car.
He described the elation when he realised he’d nailed the lotto numbers.
“When I see them come up – 1, 2, 3, 12, 20 – I said “Oof! I’m getting more than my money back,” he explained.
“The guy rang up, I said: ‘Who the hell are you?’ … he was from Lotto, and he confirmed it. I couldn’t go back to sleep.”
The former disability worker retired immediately after and launched himself into racehorse ownership, buying several horses.
Mr Little said his new cashed-up life in horse racing was an “exciting” one.
“People might scoff at this, but the money is great. It’s only secondary importance when you see the cups,” he said.
“Lotto is a game of chance, as we all know, but winning a Group One with the trainer training the horse and the jockey primed to go with it, that’s the excitement, the tactics in it and things like that.”
One of the purchases, a two-year-old Toowoomba colt named Cifrado, has turned into quite the investment, having amassed over $880,000 in career earnings. Cifrado will compete in the prestigious $1 million JJ Atkins Plate at Eagle Farm on Saturday off the back of two first-place finishes.
Tipsters have labelled the colt “rest roughie” in the field of 17 at $10 at the time of publishing.
In 2021, Mr Little extended his passion for the sport to the Cairns Turf Club and the Cairns Jockey Club with a $20,000 donation.
“I hope it can create more interest in racing because extra prize money brings good horses and also is an added attraction for racegoers. Anything we can do to promote local racing is good”, he said at the time.
From horses to horsepower, Mr Little said his millions also got his dream car – a red Toyota Supra.
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