20-Year-Old Wins Lottery, Picks $1,000 Every Week for Life

Imagine scratching a lottery ticket on a work break and realising you’ve just won a life-changing prize — and then doing something totally unexpected with it. That’s exactly what happened to 20-year-old Montrealer Brenda Aubin-Vega, who uncovered the top prize on a Gagnant à vie (“Winner for Life”) scratch ticket and chose to turn down the $1 million lump sum in favour of $1,000 every week for the rest of her life.

Most people would leap at the chance to take a big pile of cash upfront, but Aubin-Vega decided that the steady, predictable income was more appealing — especially as she looks toward long-term goals like buying a home in Montreal’s competitive real-estate market.

What Lottery She Won and What She Chose

Aubin-Vega had one winning scratch ticket when three pig-bank symbols aligned on her Gagnant à vie card — a game run by Loto-Québec that offers winners two options:

• A single payout of $1 million up front, or
• $1,000 per week for life (tax-free in Quebec).

Instead of taking the instant cash, she opted for the lifetime weekly annuity, telling officials she wanted the security of a predictable income that she could use as a foundation for saving and future financial planning, including buying a home one day.

Why Most Winners Take the Lump Sum

While Aubin-Vega’s choice made headlines, most lottery winners prefer the lump sum. Financially, taking the $1 million upfront gives immediate access to all the funds, which can be invested or spent right away — but it also means managing a large sum responsibly.

By contrast, the weekly $1,000 payout provides stability and discipline, and if invested wisely at even modest growth rates, the weekly annuity can match or exceed the value of the lump sum over time. For instance, analysts note that at a 5 per cent growth rate, future value from the weekly payments could rival or exceed $1 million over many years while avoiding the temptation of instant large spending.

How the Scratch Ticket Works

Gagnant à vie is one of Loto-Québec’s most popular scratch games, with odds of about 1 in 1.5 million for the top prize. Players must uncover three matching symbols — like pig banks — to win. Winners have 60 days to choose whether to accept the lifetime annuity or the lump sum.

The ticket was bought at Dépanneur Jen & Dan on Rue Poirier in Montreal, a convenience store Aubin-Vega regularly visits. The retailer also earns a commission from selling the winning ticket.

Reactions and Public Debate

Aubin-Vega’s choice has stirred conversation online and among financial commentators. Some people praise the decision as sensible long-term planning, especially in a tough housing market where consistent income can help secure mortgages or savings goals. Others argue that a lump sum offers more flexibility, particularly for young winners with different financial opportunities.

Posts on social media highlight the contrasting views: some applaud her focus on stability over splurges, while others wonder whether the steady payments will end up being worth less than investing a lump sum would have been.

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