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Christmas has come early for hundreds of lucky ticket holders in Spain as they will share the spoils of the world's largest lottery, worth a total of $2.86 billion.
Known as “El Gordo,” meaning “the fat one,” random players with the number 88008 won 400,000 euros ($440,000) each in the top prize of Spain's annual Christmas lottery.
While other lotteries around the world offer larger individual top prizes, the Spanish Christmas lottery is considered the richest in the world in terms of total prize money.
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People across the country turned on early morning television, radio and the Internet as the numbers tumbled out of two giant, shuffling bins. The children from the San Ildefonso School in Madrid then began singing the award-winning numbers.
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Children from Madrid's San Ildefonso School sing out the winning numbers during the drawing. Known as “El Gordo,” meaning “the fat one,” random players numbered 88008 won $440,000 each in the top prize of Spain’s annual Christmas lottery. (AP Photo/Paul White)
The hugely popular lottery kicks off the festive season in Spain with street and pub celebrations that usually break out after the numbers are drawn. The winners uncork bottles of champagne while people sing and dance in the street.
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A worker monitors the moment lottery balls are filled into a drum before the draw in Madrid, December 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul White)
It takes place every year on December 22nd at Madrid's Teatro Real opera house, with each ticket costing around $22.
Many people like to divide tickets in so-called “decimo” (tenths) in the run-up to Christmas. It is a great tradition among families, friends, colleagues and in bars as well as sports and social clubs. Ticket sales begin in July and some players purchase their tickets in the seaside resort or city where they are spending their summer vacation.
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Each grand prize winner will receive approximately 325,000 euros after taxes, or approximately $360,000. There were also several smaller prizes awarded to other ticket holders.
People in costumes wait at Madrid's Teatro Real opera house for the start of the draw during Spain's El Gordo Christmas lottery. Random players numbered 88008 won $440,000 each as the grand prize. (AP Photo/Paul White)
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According to the Guardian, the draw had to be briefly interrupted twice due to a glitch in the number drum. The handle of the mechanism that activates the outlet of the balls came loose, requiring an operator to intervene with a screwdriver in his hand.
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Spain founded its national lottery in 1763 during the reign of King Carlos III. as a charity. His goal later became to support the state treasury while helping several charities.
The December 22nd lottery began in 1812.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.