Biggest wins in SA history – and what happened next!

Updated March 19, 2025, 7:04 a.m. | By East Coast Breakfast / Skyye Ndlovu

From rags to riches and back again! Check out the wildest millionaire wins in SA history, and what happened next…

So much money — Graham Montanari / iStock

Winning big money is life-changing… or is it? Some South Africans have won way more than R1 million.

A few of them used that opportunity to multiply their winnings, while others blew it quicker than a phone screen shattering on the pavement.

So where are they now? Well, let’s dive into some of SA’s wildest lottery stories.

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1. The biggest Lotto win ever in SA – R232 million

The top spot goes to this lucky goose, who walked away with R232 million in 2019. South Africa’s biggest-ever lottery win came from a single lucky ticket bought at an OK Mini Mart in Tygerdal, Cape Town.

After an incredible 24 consecutive rollovers, the PowerBall jackpot skyrocketed to a staggering R232 million, sending the whole country into a ticket-buying frenzy.

The mystery winner was a man in his 50s, who chose to remain completely anonymous, despite instantly becoming one of SA’s richest people.

What’s even more surprising is instead of retiring to a private island, he announced that he would keep working. Apparently, R232 million isn’t quite enough for a permanent vacation.

2. The golfer who won R167 million

For nearly three months, South Africa’s second-largest PowerBall jackpot kept players on edge, rolling over from November to February before finally landing in the hands of one lucky winner.

The R167 million fortune came from a simple Quick Pick ticket purchased in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, and the man behind the win? A 67-year-old businessman with a love for golf.

Although, instead of going on a wild spending spree, the new millionaire took a very different approach. His plan was simple. Pay off debts, invest wisely, donate to charity, and travel a bit – but no extravagant lifestyle changes.

No Ferraris, no private jets, just a financially responsible golfer living his best (but still low-key) life.

3. The R158m that changed unemployed to willingly unemployed

In a true rags-to-riches moment, a North West mother went from struggling after losing her job during the COVID-19 pandemic to becoming South Africa’s biggest online lottery winner, all thanks to a quick tap on her banking app.

Her R158 million PowerBall win, played via ABSA, turned her life around overnight.

Instead of splurging on flashy cars or a private jet, her first dream was simple – a family vacation in Durban, a place she had always longed to visit, simply because she'd never physically seen the sea before.

Beyond the beach trip, she had plans to build the dream home she had envisioned since childhood and invest wisely, ensuring her family could live comfortably for generations.

A portion of her winnings also went towards an education trust for her children and a donation to charity, proving that sometimes, a life-changing win can change many lives, not just one.

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Currently, these three remain the top lotto winners in South Africa. However, winning millions doesn’t always guarantee having common sense.

Sometimes, it seems like those two things are completely separate. Just look at some of these examples:

4. From R56 million to R20 in 10 years (or less)

Kamohelo David Potsane once had R56 million, a career as a boxer and marathon runner, endorsements pouring in, and a lavish lifestyle that made him a high roller. Sadly, by the time he appeared on Mzansi Magic’s 'I Blew It', he was left with just R20 in his bank account.

From expensive nights out where he’d blow R45,000 in a bar to buying R8,000 bottles of whiskey, Potsane spent recklessly to impress, living in the moment without considering the future.

His downfall came after he lost his boxing title in 2000, and his personal life unravelled. He lost his family, fell into alcohol addiction, and watched his fortune disappear.

Potsane admits that he squandered it all on women, partying, and bad decisions. Now that he’s left with regret and a life that’s become a cautionary tale, he hopes that his story will serve as a lesson to others about the dangers of living beyond your means.

5. The Olympian who blew R8.4m on drugs and women

Luvo Manyonga’s story of losing his fortune is both heartbreaking and eye-opening. The Olympic silver medallist went from a millionaire to relying on a R350 government grant, admitting to radio host Thabiso Mosia that he squandered his R8.4 million fortune on drugs and women.

In an emotional interview, Manyonga recalled realising he was broke when his bank account dropped to just R900,000, which, sadly, he also blew through.

Now living with his aunt in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, away from the glitz and glamour of his former life, Manyonga’s journey has been humbling.

However, there’s a silver lining: he has taken a positive step forward by becoming an ambassador for Clinix Health Group, where he hopes to help others struggling with addiction.

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So, what’s the moral of the story? Winning big can go one of two ways:

You use it wisely and invest to live a comfortable, stress-free life; or
You go wild, buy Ferraris for your entire squad, splurge on alcohol and sexual pleasures, and end up broke.

Why not take a chance and see where it takes you? Entries for A Million and Change are still open. Just answer a few simple questions, and you could be the next millionaire.

While it may not be R232m, here’s the real challenge: can you turn a million (and change) into millions – and a complete life transformation?

Click here to enter!