They Won the Lottery at 20 - Then Turned Down $1 Million

Most lottery winners dream of the lump sum - the instant freedom of a seven-figure number landing in their bank account. Brenda Aubin-Vega said no thank you.

The Win

On July 3, 2025, Loto-Quebec announced that Brenda Aubin-Vega, 20, from Montreal had claimed the top prize on a Gagnant a vie (Winner for Life) instant scratch ticket. She had bought two tickets during her work break at Depanneur Jen and Dan on Rue Poirier in Montreal, stepped outside, scratched them - and found three piggy-bank symbols. She checked the ticket over and over before calling her father to share the news.

The Choice Nobody Expected

The Gagnant a vie prize comes with two options: a $1,000,000 lump sum or $1,000 a week for life as an annuity. Aubin-Vega chose the weekly payments. Her reasoning was straightforward - the regular income would help her save toward buying a home, and she felt protected from the temptation to overspend a large windfall all at once.

The Math

In Canada, lottery winnings are entirely tax-free, which sharpens the comparison. At $1,000 a week, Aubin-Vega would reach the $1 million mark in approximately 19 years - by the time she is 39. If she lives to a typical life expectancy, the total payout could reach $3 million or more. The lump sum, invested at a 5% return, would cross $2 million around the same 21-year mark - but it requires the discipline to invest the entire amount immediately and leave it untouched. Most financial commentators noted the annuity is the better bet for a 20-year-old who might otherwise spend a windfall.

The Viral Debate

The story went viral on Reddit and X in December 2025, months after Loto-Quebec's July announcement. Comment sections split sharply: some argued the lump sum invested early would outperform the annuity over a full lifetime; others pointed out that the annuity is essentially a guaranteed return most investors never achieve. Aubin-Vega was the 10th winner of a lifetime annuity in Quebec in 2025 alone. The convenience store that sold the ticket received a $10,000 commission.