He Was a Millionaire for 15 Minutes: Just One Message Changed a Man's Life (3 photos)

A Norwegian man believed he had become a millionaire for a few hours after receiving a message about a large Eurojackpot win. However, his joy quickly turned to disappointment. It later turned out the notification was the result of a technical error.





Ole Fredrik Sveen from Klefta regularly bought lottery tickets, believing everyone had a chance to win. Over the years, he only managed to win small amounts, barely covering the cost of the ticket, but it was enough to keep him believing in the dream of winning and future financial freedom.

In June, the man was vacationing in Greece with his girlfriend. One evening, the couple was enjoying the sunset over a glass of wine and discussing the idea of ​​buying a vacation home. The man jokingly remarked that to do so, he first needed to win the lottery.

Dreams of a New Life

A few minutes later, his phone vibrated. It was a message from Norsk Tipping informing him of a large Eurojackpot win. Seeing the number 1.3 million Norwegian kroner in the app, the man reread the notification several times, in disbelief. He showed the screen to his girlfriend, who was stunned. In his mind, the Norwegian was already contemplating quitting his job, traveling, and buying real estate.

Ole immediately called his mother and shared the good news. She didn't immediately believe it, but congratulated her son, saying that luck had truly smiled on him.



However, the euphoria was short-lived. After 15 minutes, the man decided to double-check the winning numbers and discovered that only two main numbers and one bonus number had matched. This couldn't match the stated amount. Almost simultaneously, media reports began appearing that an error had been made when converting the winnings from euros to Norwegian kroner. The amounts had been mistakenly multiplied by 100 instead of divided.

As a result, the man's actual winnings amounted to approximately 135 Norwegian kroner. Thousands of other participants who had previously been told of a "large prize" received the same amount. Amid the scandal, the company's CEO resigned, accepting compensation of 3 million crowns, a move that many perceived with bitter irony.

A Ruined Vacation

The disappointment was profound. The man had to call his mother again and explain that he hadn't actually won. His girlfriend burst into tears. He spent the rest of his vacation in a depressed mood. According to Ole, thoughts of "what could have been" lingered for several days.

Official confirmation of the error from the lottery company came only a few days later. The man admits he was glad he realized the situation so quickly, because if he had believed he'd won all weekend, he might have spent money he didn't actually have.



Despite what happened, he didn't make a fuss. He says that in Norway, people rarely make a fuss over such situations. His friends were understanding, although he himself still can't see the humor in it.

He didn't even notice his actual "winnings." He says that in Norway, that amount wouldn't even be enough for a glass of champagne; he most likely spent the money on groceries. He no longer plays the lottery.