Five Friends Win €250 Million EuroMillions Jackpot in Paris
Five lifelong friends from the Paris region have just made history. Together, they won the €250 million EuroMillions jackpot, the largest ever recorded in France!
The winning ticket was purchased on August 19 in a tobacconist shop in Paris’s 16è arrondissement, near Auteuil.
None of them had played the lottery as a group before. It was their first shared ticket, and it turned out to be worth a quarter of a billion euros.
Their numbers were 24, 31, 34, 41, 43 and the stars 6 and 8. According to Française des Jeux (FDJ), the group consists of men and women in their fifties who have known each other for around fifty years.
The FDJ didn’t disclose their identities, but said the friends were calm, grateful, and planning to celebrate privately.
This jackpot breaks the previous French record set at €220 million in 2021. The tobacconist who sold the ticket said he was “overjoyed” that the biggest win in French history happened in his shop.
FDJ confirmed that the winners came forward within the 60-day deadline. Each of the five will now receive €50 million before any personal arrangements or investments.
What happens next
In France, EuroMillions winnings are tax-free. The five friends will get the full amount without deductions.
If they invest their new fortune however, any interest, dividends, or gains will be taxed like normal income.
If they decide to share the money with others or donate large sums, gift taxes could apply depending on the amount and relationship. Inheritance taxes would also apply if the money is passed down later.
French lottery winners often receive financial counseling from the FDJ to help manage such windfalls responsibly. Experts usually advise them to take time before making big financial or lifestyle decisions.
Lifetime friendship
The story has captured public imagination not only for the record amount but also for its sense of friendship and shared luck.
The group had played together for fun, just once. One ticket, one draw, and a friendship spanning decades turned into one of the most extraordinary lottery stories France has ever seen.