Basement Fix-Up Man Wins Lotto Max $50 Million And Vows To Keep His Day Job

Lotto Max $50M winner Gregory Nikolopoulos (L) and his family at the OLG Toronto Prize Center, Ontario. Photo: Sun News

Would you still keep your job if you won $50 million? That's what Canadian Gregory Nikolopoulos will do after winning the Lotto Max in Feb 2015.

On Friday evening, he went to his corner store to buy a bag of nachos and some lottery tickets, according to this interview.

"It's just a tradition. Then I went home and fell a sleep on the couch," he said.

“When I woke up the morning after the draw, I had a coffee and started checking my selections online. It’s my regular routine."

"On the fourth selection, I started realizing the numbers were matching up. I started screaming. My son, Caiden was home at the time and thought something was wrong with one of our pets."

Corner Market owner Armenak Kesheshian.

“He was actually very, very excited,” said Corner Market owner Armenak Kesheshian. “He was breathing really, really heavily."

"It was an exciting day, because there were a few customers that had to wait in the line while we were waiting for the OLG to call. They didn't mind waiting. Everyone was excited for him.”

The Corner Store in RiverEnd Plaza, Wasaga Beach.

His wife, Tammy, was on vacation in the Dominican Republic with their daughter, Jennifer, when she learned about their win.

"Gregory told me to sit down. He shared the news and I was in utter disbelief," Tammy said, adding she wanted to hear the news from her son because her husband is a jokester.

"We were lucky enough to catch the last two flights out of the Dominican Republic. We were home within 24 hours."

The family had took a limo to the OLG lotto prize centre to collect their check.

"It's $50 million! There are no words to describe this feeling. It's something you dream about, but when it actually happens it takes a while till it sinks in," Gregory said.

The couple has been married for 22 years and say for the time being the money will be put in the the bank.

"We'll still be ourselves. But our lives are going to change. It's just so overwhelming," Tammy said.

They say one of their first plans is to make sure their immediate family is worry-free financially.

He has a business fixing basements and she rescues dogs for a charity.

"I am keeping my company and I'm still going to play the lottery," he said. He also plans to buy a bigger boat.

POLL: How much prize money would make you give up your job?