In an era where winning the lottery seems as improbable as being struck by lightning, one man defied the odds with a calculated approach. Romanian economist Stefan Mandel orchestrated a remarkable feat, winning a total of 14 lotteries globally through the innovative use of a syndicate known as the International Lotto Fund (ILF).
Mandel, leveraging the assistance of investors, meticulously devised a system that effectively increased his chances of securing the jackpot. In a revealing YouTube interview, Mandel detailed his method: “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.”
One significant milestone in Mandel’s lottery crusade was targeting a Virginia lottery. The rules of this particular lottery, which entailed selecting six numbers from one to 44, presented a relatively favorable scenario with 7,059,052 possible combinations. Adding to the advantage, Virginia’s regulations permitted ticket purchases and printouts from home, streamlining the process considerably.
In February 1992, Mandel’s syndicate seized a golden opportunity with a $27 million jackpot. By securing every conceivable ticket combination, they not only clinched the grand prize but also amassed an additional $900,000 in secondary prizes for other winning tickets. This unprecedented winning spree did not go unnoticed; 14 international agencies, including the CIA and FBI, launched investigations into Mandel and the ILF. However, they were eventually cleared of any misconduct.
Today, Stefan Mandel resides on a serene island off the coast of Australia, reportedly enjoying a tranquil life in a beach house.
