Homeless Hungarian man hits lottery jackpot with his last few coins

Homeless Hungarian man hits lottery jackpot with his last few coins
László Andraschek plans to use Hungary's biggest win of £1.7m to set up foundation for addicts and abused women



Unemployed, in debt and facing another year living on the streets in Hungary, László Andraschek spent his last remaining coins on a lottery ticket. Now the formerly homeless man has a choice of accommodation around the world after becoming one of Hungary's biggest lottery winners, with a prize of about £1.7m.

Andraschek, whose 630m Hungarian forint win last September went unnoticed until he made a significant donation to a hostel for the homeless this month, said buying the ticket was a chance decision at a railway station on his way to Budapest for a workshop for recovering alcoholics.

"I had only picked six numbers and the female shop assistant reminded me that I needed to pick a seventh," he said. "I told her to make it 24 – it doesn't matter, anyway."

But he was wrong and now plans to use his winnings to establish a foundation for addicts and women abused by their husbands.

The 55-year-old resident of Gyor, north-west Hungary, said his first act was to repay his debts, before cycling to a car dealer. "When the car salesman asked me how much I would be willing to spend, I held up three fingers. As I had arrived on a bike he assumed this meant 300,000 forints, but actually I meant 3m."

As neither he nor his wife can drive, the car will be driven only by his children.

Andraschek has since bought flats for each of his three children, paid off the debts of his relatives and is planning to travel to Italy, having not previously held a passport.

He and his wife, Anikó, said they will invest their money cautiously and avoid the ruinous spending splurges of many a lottery winner. "I have become rich but I have not become a different person. I could buy a large-screen TV because I can afford it, but I won't buy three because I can afford it."

Having struggled with alcoholism, Andraschek finally quit five years ago and says he "now has no need to return".

The news of Andraschek's dramatic upturn in fortunes came as human rights activists organised a wave of protests worldwide against a new Hungarian law that bans sleeping rough, in a country that has 30,000 homeless people. Last week alone, demonstrations were held in front of Hungarian embassies and consulates in London, Paris, New York, Vienna, Lisbon, Dublin, Brussels, Essen and Istanbul. Next weekend a Hungarian NGO run by homeless people, A Város Mindenkié (The City is for All), will stage another protest in Budapest against the law, which threatens those living on the streets with a fine or imprisonment.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/16/homeless-hungarian-lottery-win-laszlo-andrasche

Bloody good luck to him, how lovely that he plans to do some good with it.

The law they have introduced is a disgrace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He'll probably buy a big hoose in Chelsea

What a brilliant story!!, a guy who has gone through addiction and extreme poverty, most likely hit rock bottom a few times, I really happy to read something like this , a giver to shelters and charities ...this is what I mean when I say often others have to had gone through things before they can understand them....


Good on him , I hope he and his family have so much joy form that money.

1.7 million he would have got more than that for coming to Britain and signing on...

heavenly father wrote:1.7 million he would have got more than that for coming to Britain and signing on...

I thought as a Christian that your bible would tell you to show sympathy for the poor Favva?

Shut the fuck up you miserable son of a bitch HF.   This is a thread about something nice.   Keep your scummy comments to yourself and go back to being a hypocritical 'christian' bastard.

Joy Division wrote:

heavenly father wrote:1.7 million he would have got more than that for coming to Britain and signing on...

I thought as a Christian that your bible would tell you to show sympathy for the poor  Favva?

it was actually a joke... :D 

heavenly father wrote:

Joy Division wrote:


I thought as a Christian that your bible would tell you to show sympathy for the poor  Favva?

it was actually a joke... :D 

Yeah I know it was a joke saying he would get more than that on benefits    but does your bible tell folk to show compassion to the poor?

Sassy wrote:
Homeless Hungarian man hits lottery jackpot with his last few coins
László Andraschek plans to use Hungary's biggest win of £1.7m to set up foundation for addicts and abused women



Unemployed, in debt and facing another year living on the streets in Hungary, László Andraschek spent his last remaining coins on a lottery ticket. Now the formerly homeless man has a choice of accommodation around the world after becoming one of Hungary's biggest lottery winners, with a prize of about £1.7m.

Andraschek, whose 630m Hungarian forint win last September went unnoticed until he made a significant donation to a hostel for the homeless this month, said buying the ticket was a chance decision at a railway station on his way to Budapest for a workshop for recovering alcoholics.

"I had only picked six numbers and the female shop assistant reminded me that I needed to pick a seventh," he said. "I told her to make it 24 – it doesn't matter, anyway."

But he was wrong and now plans to use his winnings to establish a foundation for addicts and women abused by their husbands.

The 55-year-old resident of Gyor, north-west Hungary, said his first act was to repay his debts, before cycling to a car dealer. "When the car salesman asked me how much I would be willing to spend, I held up three fingers. As I had arrived on a bike he assumed this meant 300,000 forints, but actually I meant 3m."

As neither he nor his wife can drive, the car will be driven only by his children.

Andraschek has since bought flats for each of his three children, paid off the debts of his relatives and is planning to travel to Italy, having not previously held a passport.

He and his wife, Anikó, said they will invest their money cautiously and avoid the ruinous spending splurges of many a lottery winner. "I have become rich but I have not become a different person. I could buy a large-screen TV because I can afford it, but I won't buy three because I can afford it."

Having struggled with alcoholism, Andraschek finally quit five years ago and says he "now has no need to return".

The news of Andraschek's dramatic upturn in fortunes came as human rights activists organised a wave of protests worldwide against a new Hungarian law that bans sleeping rough, in a country that has 30,000 homeless people. Last week alone, demonstrations were held in front of Hungarian embassies and consulates in London, Paris, New York, Vienna, Lisbon, Dublin, Brussels, Essen and Istanbul. Next weekend a Hungarian NGO run by homeless people, A Város Mindenkié (The City is for All), will stage another protest in Budapest against the law, which threatens those living on the streets with a fine or imprisonment.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/16/homeless-hungarian-lottery-win-laszlo-andrasche

Bloody good luck to him, how lovely that he plans to do some good with it.

The law they have introduced is a disgrace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh bless him. Wonderful story.

It is isn't it and a joy to read about.

Nice one guys, someone with a family to feed in dire poverty

pfft, he should have it taken off him....he's obviously a waster if he's prepared to risk his last few coins (which he undoubtedly begged) on gambling..Clearly he is one of those "lesser" humans who is homeless because he is a loser, so he doesnt deserve this. That money could do wonders tucked away in a bankers personal account.

Well, I'm waiting for that argument to come up from Big Andy etc lol

Sassy wrote:Well, I'm waiting for that argument to come up from Big Andy etc lol

...I think Vic is posting on behalf of BA   

victorismyhero wrote:pfft, he should have it taken off him....he's obviously a waster if he's prepared to risk his last few coins (which he undoubtedly begged) on gambling..Clearly he is one of those "lesser" humans who is homeless because he is a loser, so he doesnt deserve this. That money could do wonders tucked away in a bankers personal account.

I was expecting you Andy   

sorry about that...i went out today and i recon i caught a virus......R/W itis

victorismyhero wrote:sorry about that...i went out today and i recon i caught a virus......R/W itis

Take the medicine quick, I have virtually no immune system!    

victorismyhero wrote:sorry about that...i went out today and i recon i caught a virus......R/W itis

...at least your honest!