JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An Israeli man who won NIS 64 million ($21 million) in the lottery has revealed the deeply personal story behind his extraordinary windfall, including the loss of his father, his commitment to helping those in need, and an unusual plan to surprise his wife with the life-changing news.

Just two days after winning the first prize in Israel’s Double Lotto, the man arrived at the headquarters of Mifal HaPais, Israel’s national lottery, to claim his prize. Despite becoming a multimillionaire overnight, he admitted that he was still struggling to comprehend what had happened.

The discovery itself was remarkably ordinary. The winner scanned his lottery ticket using the Mifal HaPais mobile application, expecting a routine result. Instead, the screen displayed an astonishing prize of NIS 64 million.

“I rubbed my eyes several times,” he recalled with a smile. “Then I immediately took a screenshot on my phone to make sure I wasn’t mistaken.”

But rather than immediately sharing the extraordinary news with his wife, he decided to keep it a secret and arrange a surprise she would never forget. When the time came to visit the lottery headquarters, he asked his wife to accompany him, telling her only that he had an important meeting. He even asked her to wish him luck.

The couple parked a short distance from the building, and his wife remained outside near their car, completely unaware that her husband was inside completing the formalities to collect a fortune. He planned to reveal the truth only after finishing the process, turning what she believed was an ordinary appointment into one of the most unforgettable moments of their marriage.

Behind the excitement of the lottery victory lies a story of grief, remembrance, and generosity. During the past year, the winner lost his father, a deeply significant event in his life. In his father’s memory, he purchased a Sefer Torah as a meaningful tribute to his father.

Now, with his financial circumstances transformed, the winner says he intends to expand his charitable activities substantially. According to his account, giving to others was already an important part of his life long before the lottery win. He regularly donated money and helped people in need, and one of his first decisions after discovering his new fortune was to increase that assistance.

Rather than focusing exclusively on luxury purchases or an extravagant lifestyle, he spoke about the opportunity to use his unexpected wealth to make a difference in other people’s lives.

The winner also revealed that he is not a regular lottery player. Instead, he buys tickets only when jackpots reach particularly large amounts. “I buy excitement for 66 shekels,” he explained, describing the modest price he pays for the possibility of winning a fortune.

He does not rely on birthdays, anniversaries, or supposedly lucky numbers. Instead, he selects his numbers entirely at random. According to additional reports, the winning Double Lotto ticket matched all six numbers and the additional strong number, securing the NIS 64 million jackpot rather than the NIS 32 million available in the regular Lotto draw.

After taxes, the winner is expected to receive approximately NIS 38.4 million ($12 million).

Despite the extraordinary windfall, the winner’s reflections were strikingly different from the extravagant dreams often associated with lottery jackpots. “The most important thing is to be happy, whether you have money or whether you don’t,” he said after receiving the check.