'Many lives ruined; trying luck this year as well'; 2022 Onam bumper winner Anoop opens up

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rs 25 crore came into Anoop’s pocket in 2022 after the Sreevaraham native hit the jackpot that year with an Onam bumper ticket. For the next few days after the win, Anoop was gleaming across television screens while a beeline of news portals formed in front of his house, awaiting his opinion.

Four years passed, and life has moved on. Anoop is still in Thiruvananthapuram, and now he is here to give his advice to the upcoming Onam bumper winner of 2026. He shared these thoughts with Zee Malayalam News.

Anoop:

"Life is going much better than I had ever dreamed. Starting a hotel was a long-held ambition of mine, and that too has come true. I initially started the hotel in Kaithamukku in a rented space. Since it was successful, I purchased my own building in Attakulangara, which now operates as both a hotel and a lodge. If you move forward with a solid plan, everything will succeed.

The prize money for the Onam Bumper has now been raised to Rs 30 crore. However, the actual payout is around Rs 18 crore. It is advisable to hold onto the money for a year before making any plans. Winning the lottery attracts all sorts of people—relatives and strangers alike—seeking financial help. Never fall for their pleas and instead wait for up to a year before deciding how to manage the funds.

Even though it has been four years since I won the lottery, people still call me asking for financial assistance. My advice is not to rush into doing anything with the money immediately after winning. It is only now that I have started construction of my house. One should not proceed without a proper plan, as many lottery winners have ended up ruining their lives.

I have tried my luck this year as well. If I win, the first thing I would do is to tell no one about it. I would consult a bank and deposit the money there, keeping it invested for at least a year. Many people will approach you with various requests; do not fall for them. Even with a lottery win, there are taxes involved. You might feel like everything is settled once you win, but that isn't the case. That is why you shouldn't touch the money for a year. I won around Rs 15 crore; after taxes, I received about Rs 12 crore. I didn't withdraw any of it for a year. Only after that did I use some of the funds for necessary expenses. If you handle things wisely, you are destined for massive achievements."