A touching tribute to his mother’s birthday has resulted in a life-changing windfall for Anilkumar Bolla, an Indian expatriate in Abu Dhabi. He has claimed the record-breaking Dh100 million (over Rs 240 crore) jackpot in the UAE Lottery’s latest draw, the largest sum ever paid out in the region. Bolla, 29, revealed that one of his chosen numbers was 11, signifying the month of his mother’s birth, a detail he incorporated into his ‘Easy Pick’ selection. He acquired 12 tickets at once, a decision that has now made him an overnight sensation. The historic draw took place on October 18th, and Bolla’s victory against odds of 1 in 8.8 million was confirmed on Monday. Describing the moment of realization, Bolla recounted sitting on his sofa and feeling an overwhelming certainty that he had won. He plans to approach his newfound wealth with prudence, aiming for wise investments and meaningful expenditures. Bringing his parents to the UAE and making their modest dreams a reality is his top priority. Future plans include acquiring a supercar, experiencing a luxury getaway, and contributing to charitable causes for the less fortunate. Bolla encourages others to remain hopeful and persistent in their lottery pursuits, believing that destiny plays a role and that opportunities can arise unexpectedly.
