- That is, he won the lottery 14 times.
The man who won the lottery probably imagined what he would do with all the money, too. But first he found a way to cheat the system as it were, with simple math.
What would you do if you won the lottery? For Romanian Stefan Mandel, he won the lottery enough for 14 other people. That is, he won 14 times.
He claims it’s all due to simple math. Who knew our teachers were right when they said we’d need math in the future?
Mandel targeted lotteries around the world, with the help of investors and a syndicate, The International Lotto Fund. He said, “Theoretically, anybody can buy all the possible combinations. Any high school boy or girl can calculate those combinations. Nobody has ever developed a logistical system to lodge such a large amount of play slips. We were the only winners and that was it.”
Mandel estimated 7,059,052 to choose from in the Virginia lottery alone, due to state rules about picking six numbers between one and 44. He cracked the code and won the lottery.
These are good odds, apparently, and he should know since he won the lottery in a way no one has before.
Using 30 computers, Mandel and his team printed out every ticket imaginable. Back in February 1992, Mandel and his team scooped $900 thousand in additional prizes for tickets that placed second, third, fourth, and so on. 
And this was in addition to the $27 million dollar jackpot. You know, pocket change.
Mandel and IDF were investigated for wrongdoing by 14 international agencies and cleared. Later in 1995, Mandel declared bankruptcy, then spent the next ten years running various investment schemes.
He almost went to an Israeli jail after one scheme but the conviction was overturned . He didn’t spend one day behind bars. Now Mandel spends his time on a beach in a remote tropical island off the coast of Australia. He’s “retired from the lottery.”
To this day, Mandel has not released the algorithm he and his team used when they won the lottery. He said, “That would be like Coca-Cola revealing their recipe.”
Smart guy either way. Have you won the lottery? Tell us your story!
For another take on the lottery, follow the link to Why Winning the Lottery is so Difficult.
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