In an extraordinary turn of events, Punjab’s Payal transformed a simple anniversary gift from her husband into a $1 million windfall. The unexpected fortune came from winning the Dubai Duty-Free Millennium Millionaire draw, a prestigious lottery offering substantial cash prizes.

Payal, who resides in Punjab, purchased the winning ticket online on May 3. The funds for the ticket came from a Dh1,000 gift her husband, Harnek Singh, gave her on their 16th wedding anniversary, celebrated on April 20. Payal chose ticket number 3337 due to its abundance of the number 3, which she felt was lucky.

“The money I used to buy the winning ticket came from my husband, who gifted me Dh1,000 on our 16th wedding anniversary,” Payal told the Khaleej Times. “I thought of buying a DDF ticket online with the money, and I picked the ticket with the most number 3s in it.”

Payal has a history of purchasing Dubai Duty-Free tickets, having done so for the past 12 years. Typically, she bought these tickets while traveling, often rotating the names on the tickets between her husband and children. However, this was the first time she decided to buy a ticket online, a decision that proved immensely rewarding.

“I used to buy DDF lottery tickets once or twice a year at the airport, but last time I made an exception by buying a ticket online for the first time. This cash gift from my husband has made us millionaires,” she shared.

Regarding their plans for the substantial prize, Payal mentioned that she and her husband intend to prioritize their children’s education, assist her brother in Australia, and contribute to charitable work within their Punjabi community.

With this win, Payal becomes the 229th Indian national to claim victory in the Millennium Millionaire promotion. The Dubai Duty-Free Millennium Millionaire Promotion, established in 1999, gives 5,000 ticket holders the chance to win $1 million. Indian nationals represent the largest group of participants in this popular lottery.