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Ballina’s $100M secret: The whole town thinks they know who won Australia’s biggest lottery after a grandchild’s rogue Facebook post… We spoke to the bingo-loving gran at the centre of the rumours
Ballina residents have been speculating about the identity of the woman who won Australia’s $100 million Powerball jackpot, after a grandchild or other relative reportedly posted the news on Facebook before deleting it. A local couple have become the focus of the rumours, but the man has denied that they won, and the winner has not been publicly identified.
The jackpot was won on 15 October by a woman who bought an $18.90 ticket online and was the only person in Australia to match all eight winning numbers. Locals point to reports of a bingo-loving grandmother, a family bereavement and celebrations as clues; the winner told lottery officials she saw the prize as a sign from a recently deceased loved one. These details have fuelled the speculation but do not confirm the couple’s identity.
In short
- Ballina residents are guessing who won the $100 million Powerball.
- The winner bought an $18.90 ticket online.
- The man at the centre of the rumours denies they won.
Explained simply
Powerball is a national lottery in which players choose numbers for a chance to win a jackpot. A single winning ticket can attract attention across Australia, especially when the prize is unusually large.
Ballina is a town in New South Wales, where residents have been trying to work out who bought the winning ticket. The winner has not been publicly named, and reports about a local grandmother and her family have prompted speculation without confirming who won.
The rumours have spread through local conversation and a Facebook post that was reportedly deleted. The story matters to residents because the winner may be someone in their community, but privacy means claims about particular people should be treated as unconfirmed.