By Olivia Day For Daily Mail Australia
23:55 07 Jun 2023, updated 00:04 08 Jun 2023
- Cairns man won $40million Lotto in 2019
- He has since invested in several race horses
- Millionaire also bought a red sports car
A lucky Australian who became an overnight millionaire after winning a $40million jackpot has decided to invest some of his cash in several racehorses.
Cliff Little, a former disability worker, resigned just hours after receiving the life-changing news that he had won the entire Powerball jackpot.
In the four years since, Mr Little has used the money to buy properties for his children, a red sports car for himself and several racehorses.
‘When I see them come up – 1, 2, 3, 12, 20 – I said ‘ooh I’m getting more than my money back. 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,’ he told 9News.
Due to his early retirement Mr Little now has ample time to relax in his Cairns home and enjoy one of his passions, watching horse racing on the TV.
He then decided to use some of his millions to purchase several horses.
Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp purchased one of the horses on Mr Little’s behalf and admitted he doesn’t even know what the millionaire looks like.
‘I’ve never met him, I’ve never seen a photo of him, but I told Cliff this is the only colt I like in the sale and he virtually left it to me,’ he said.
The horse has won Mr Little over $900,000 and on Saturday will compete in a prestigious Group One race in Queensland.
Mr Little said winning a race and winning the Lotto felt very different.
‘People might scoff at this but the money is great, it’s only secondary importance when you see the cups,’ he said, while proudly displaying his trophies.
‘Lotto is a game of chance, as well 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.’
After winning the prize, Mr Little said: ‘I won’t be able to sleep tonight!.’
‘I thought I would check my ticket before bed. I was quite calm. I knew I had some of the numbers and thought I might have won division six.
‘Then I had another look and thought ‘no, you b******s are wrong!’ I had a look again. Then I went and had a shower.’
‘Actually, when the phone rang, my cat ran over to the phone. She never does that. I was really surprised. That’s why I answered the phone.
‘It’s hard to believe only one person won it and that one person is me!
‘It’s amazing. You dream about these things but when it happens you don’t believe it,’ he said.
Australians will have the chance to win their own $40million in Thursday night’s Powerball. Entries for draw 1412 will close at 7.30pm (AEST).