Introduction

The dream of a lottery jackpot captures our collective imagination – the life-changing moment when ordinary people become instant millionaires. Across Africa, national lotteries have created numerous overnight millionaires, transforming the lives of lucky winners in both expected and unexpected ways.

This article profiles some of Africa's most notable lottery winners, explores their journeys after hitting the jackpot, and reveals valuable lessons about wealth management and life after a major windfall.

South Africa's PowerBall Champions

Thabo Mokoena: From Factory Worker to Philanthropist

In 2018, Thabo Mokoena, a 46-year-old factory worker from Soweto, won the R232 million PowerBall jackpot – one of the largest individual lottery prizes in South African history.

Before his win, Mokoena lived in a modest two-bedroom home and struggled to support his extended family. Today, seven years after his life-changing moment, Mokoena has emerged as an inspiring success story.

"The first thing I did was hire a financial advisor," Mokoena revealed in a rare 2024 interview. "That was the best decision I ever made."

Unlike many winners who immediately splurge on luxury items, Mokoena took a measured approach. He paid off debts, purchased a comfortable but not extravagant home, and established an educational trust for his children and grandchildren.

Most remarkably, he established the Mokoena Foundation, which has built three schools in underserved communities and provides scholarships to promising students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"Wealth without purpose becomes a burden," says Mokoena. "Finding ways to use my good fortune to help others has brought me more joy than any material purchase could."

The Anonymous Winner: Privacy as Priority

Not all winners choose the spotlight. In 2022, a Cape Town resident won R153 million and made headlines for their methodical approach to anonymity. Working through legal representatives, this winner established blind trusts and corporate structures to claim and manage their winnings without revealing their identity.

According to lottery officials, this winner exemplifies the growing trend of privacy-conscious jackpot recipients who recognize that public knowledge of their wealth can lead to security concerns and unwanted attention.