Grand Vie Jackpot: Stars Align for Montrealer

Robert Garrow was apparently born under a lucky star. The Montrealer, with a penchant for astrology, won the Grande Vie Jackpot in the April 25 draw, which gives the winner $1,000 a day for life.

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“I knew it was coming. I thought it was about my work, but in the end my budget suddenly increased. Thank you, Jupiter, thank you, Uranus!” the 69-year-old gushed.

Happy, but still calm in the face of this financial upheaval, Mr. Garo decided to pocket $7 million instead of $1,000 a day for the rest of his life. The other option would have earned him an annuity of $365,000 for the rest of his life.

“I'm going to take 7 million right away, so I can be excited right away. At my age, we don't know what's going to happen,” underlined the man who has been buying Grande Vie tickets since sales began in 2016.

At the end of April, he checked his ticket at 4 am in the middle of the night. That's when he realized he had won the jackpot.

“I had a hard time falling asleep afterwards,” he says with a laugh.

Amanda Moison / Agency QMI

A doubly important day

Thursday was the day of the official Lotto-Quebec ceremony to present him with the huge cheque. A doubly important day for Mr. Garoo.

“Today is my mother's birthday, happy birthday, mom,” he whispered, looking up at the sky, clearly moved.

The new billionaire has not said what he wants to do with the money. He said he should take time to think about it.

“I didn't realize it yet, I learned to live on a small budget. I'm going to cash the check and we'll see later,” he explained.

But he suggested that he should buy a new bike, indicating that it had been stolen two years ago.

“I'm going to replace my bike, that's for sure. A regular bike with pedals, not an electric bike, because that prevents me from exercising,” said the Montrealer.

“I always knew I would win”

Sri Garu, who has been passionate about astrology since his youth, says he knew that fortune would one day smile on him.

“I always knew I was going to win at some point and that's why I always bought tickets,” he said.

A man who had an astrology column in a newspaper for nearly 40 years Terrebonne Review His gain in recent weeks is also discussed in his horoscope.

Mr. Garrow bought his ticket at the Marche Express convenience store on Grande Allée in Terrebonne. According to Loto-Québec, the retailer will receive a $70,000 commission, equal to 1% of the winnings.