3 Calgary teammates who won $50 million Lotto 6-49

A trio of Calgary friends and former colleagues are each $16.6 million richer after splitting the $50 million Lotto 6-49 jackpot.

Carmen Austria, Gary Perkins and Katherine Wall have known each other for twenty years.

They started buying tickets together 17 years ago and won big in the December 9, 2023 draw.

Cost: $10 ticket purchased at Scenic Acres Husky in Calgary.

“I don't think anything prepares you for that much emotion,” Wall said.

Perkins said she received a phone call and several text messages from friends, and she didn't know what was going on at first.

“It just didn't add up,” he said.

When the group found out they had won, they called the lotto office, but the office was closed for the holidays.

Austria said the first big purchase was a five-week trip to Chile.

Catherine Wall (left), Carmen Austria (center) and Gary Perkins (right) won $50 million in the 6-49 drawing on Dec. 9.“I was at the Ford dealership the next day,” Perkins said with a laugh.

“I've been preparing for this all my life.”

Wall, on the other hand, said he told his job immediately of his plans to retire.

He said a friend sent him a gold-plated “Millionaire's Starter Kit,” which includes a spiked cup and a novelty money gun that sprays fake $100 bills.