Latest news with #WayneNashD'Souza
News18
5 days ago
- Business
- News18
Millionaire Before Starting College: Indian-Origin Teen Wins $1M Lottery At Dubai Duty Free
Wayne Nash D'Souza, 18, wins $1 million in Dubai Duty Free raffle before starting aerospace engineering at University of Illinois Wayne Nash D'Souza, an 18-year-old Indian-origin student, has won $1 million in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire raffle, just days before starting university in the United States. Wayne, who is set to study aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, purchased the winning ticket—Series 510, ticket number 4463—on 26 July at Concourse A of Dubai International Airport, just moments before boarding a flight to Los Angeles with his family. Speaking to Khaleej Times from Los Angeles, Wayne described the moment as surreal. 'I was half asleep and exhausted from a full day at Universal Studios. I didn't believe it at first, it felt surreal," he said. Wayne was born and raised in Dubai to parents originally from Mumbai. His family has been participating in the Dubai Duty Free raffles for decades. 'I think my parents buy tickets regularly when they travel. I have been travelling since I was five, but they have probably been doing it for over 30 years," he said. Since he had recently turned 18, Wayne said he didn't have time to set up his own account, so he used his father's to enter the draw. 'I was feeling lucky and had a gut feeling that something good is going to happen," he added. When asked about his plans for the money, Wayne said it would go towards funding his and his sister's education, with the rest possibly being invested in property in Dubai. 'It will go toward me and my sister's education, and some of it will be used to buy property or invest in Dubai," the teen said. Dubai Duty Free confirmed Wayne is the 255th Indian-origin student to win the $1 million prize since the Millennium Millionaire promotion began in 1999. The draw offers a one-in-5,000 chance of winning, and only 10 people have won the jackpot more than once. 'An Indian student wins US$1 million, becoming the 255th Indian national to strike it rich, with plans to invest in his and his sister's future through education – how amazing is that?" Dubai Duty Free shared in a post on X Wednesday. #MillionaireNews An Indian student wins US$1 million, becoming the 255th Indian national to strike it rich, with plans to invest in his and his sister's future through education – how amazing is that? 🤩 Meanwhile, an Emirati national also claims US$1 million, and an Ethiopian… — Dubai Duty Free (@DubaiDutyFree) August 6, 2025 Meanwhile, Wayne, currently in Los Angeles with his family to support his sister's music career, said he will soon travel to Chicago to begin his university journey. view comments First Published: August 07, 2025, 19:26 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
18-year-old Indian-origin boy wins $1 million in Dubai Duty Free draw
Wayne Nash D'Souza, an 18-year-old Indian-origin boy, has hit the jackpot in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire raffles. Wayne, an aerospace engineering student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign purchased the winning ticket from Dubai airport as he was leaving for the US for his studies on July 26. Born in Dubai to parents who hail from Mumbai, Wayne said he and his family are regular participants in Dubai Duty Free promotions. 'I think my parents buy tickets regularly when they travel. I have been travelling since I was five, but they have probably been doing it for over 30 years,' Wayne was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times. 'Since I was going to the US for four years, I wanted to try myself,' he said, adding that 'I used my dad's account because I didn't have time to set up an account since turning 18 yet. I was feeling lucky and had a gut feeling that something good is going to happen.' Wayne said he was asleep when he received the call revealing him as the winner of the million-dollar lottery. 'I was half asleep and exhausted from a full day at Universal Studios. I didn't believe it at first, it felt surreal,' he said. When asked what he planned to do with the prize money, the teenager said it would be used to fund the education of himself and his sister. 'It will go toward me and my sister's education, and some of it will be used to buy property or invest in Dubai,' Wayne said. According to Gulf News, Wayne is the 255th Indian national to win $1 million through the Dubai Duty Free draw since its launch in 1999. According to Dubai Duty Free, the Millennium Millionaire Promotion offers participants a one-in-5000 chance to win $1 million, and so far, just 10 people have won the grand prize twice.
