He Bought A New Car If A Tire Popped And New Clothes Instead Of Washing: Brazilian Who Won R$ 30 Million In The Lottery Is Broke Again

Written by Jefferson Augusto

Published on 03/10/2025 at 17:00

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The Unbelievable Story of Antônio Domingos, the Former Caretaker Who Won the Equivalent of 30 Million Reais in the Lottery in 1983, Lived in Extreme Luxury and Lost Everything in a Few Years

In 1983, Brazil witnessed one of the most surprising cases of luck and financial tragedy in its history. Antônio Domingos, then just 19 years old and working as a caretaker, was the grand winner of the lottery, taking home the equivalent of US$ 30 million in today’s values. Winning the lottery and losing everything is more common than it seems, see here.

What seemed like the beginning of a life of prosperity turned into a tale of waste, vanity, and regret. In less than a decade, the young millionaire saw his fortune evaporate amidst parties, luxury hotels, abandoned cars, and discarded clothes.

From Anonymity to Sudden Stardom

Antônio went from humble employee to guest of the presidential suite at the Hotel da Bahia in Salvador. There, he lived for a year and a half amidst banquets, drinks, parties, and women.

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His spending was so eccentric that it surprised even close friends: instead of washing clothes, he bought new pieces every day; when a car or motorcycle had problems, he simply abandoned the vehicle and acquired another.

This pattern of unrestrained consumption made headlines in newspapers and TV shows, turning him into a symbol of “unrestrained wealth” and lack of financial planning.

Cars, Clothes, and Endless Nights

Instead of thinking about investments, real estate, or security for his family, Antônio plunged into a lifestyle without limits.

New cars and motorcycles were discarded at the first sign of trouble.
Clothes were worn only once and replaced with new pieces.
Extended stays in luxury hotels became routine.

Before long, the million-dollar sum began to dwindle. Without any financial guidance, each extravagance brought the young man closer to bankruptcy.

The Regret That Came Too Late

Decades later, Antônio recalls with pain the choices he made. In an interview with the program Balanço Geral, he confessed that his greatest regret was not losing the money, but letting his mother live in a shack while he squandered fortunes on frivolities.

“The only thing that hurts me is not having given my mother a better house. Today this eats at me inside,” he said emotionally.

This account became a warning about how a lack of emotional and financial preparation can turn life’s biggest prize into a lasting nightmare.

From Millionaire to Handyman in Salvador

With his fortune depleted, Antônio returned to a simple life. He worked as a handyman in restaurants in Salvador, cleaning, repairing, and providing general services. The image of the wealthy young man living in presidential suites was replaced by that of a regretful man, who seeks only to survive and carry the lesson of his mistakes.

His story, despite being painful, continues to fascinate and serve as a warning to other lottery winners: money without planning is a passport to ruin.

What Would You Do Differently If You Won Today?

When asked what he would change if he won again, Antônio does not hesitate: “The first thing would be to buy a house for my mother. And I would never do what I did”.

The answer reflects a late but essential lesson: it is not the amount of money that ensures wealth, but rather how it is managed.

71 million was not enough for him: 21-year-old man wins tens of millions in the lottery and returns to old job shortly after

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He Bought A New Car If A Tire Popped And New Clothes Instead Of Washing: Brazilian Who Won R$ 30 Million In The Lottery Is Broke Again

The Unbelievable Story of Antônio Domingos, the Former Caretaker Who Won the Equivalent of 30 Million Reais in the Lottery in 1983, Lived in Extreme Luxury and Lost Everything in a Few Years

From Anonymity to Sudden Stardom

Major Oil, Gas, and Energy Event Will Take Place in Brazil: Macaé Energy Will Gather Petrobras, Equinor, Prio, Among Other Suppliers and Energy Executives for Business, Networking, and Employment Opportunities

Cars, Clothes, and Endless Nights

The Regret That Came Too Late

From Millionaire to Handyman in Salvador

What Would You Do Differently If You Won Today?

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He Bought A New Car If A Tire Popped And New Clothes Instead Of Washing: Brazilian Who Won R$ 30 Million In The Lottery Is Broke Again

The Unbelievable Story of Antônio Domingos, the Former Caretaker Who Won the Equivalent of 30 Million Reais in the Lottery in 1983, Lived in Extreme Luxury and Lost Everything in a Few Years

From Anonymity to Sudden Stardom

Major Oil, Gas, and Energy Event Will Take Place in Brazil: Macaé Energy Will Gather Petrobras, Equinor, Prio, Among Other Suppliers and Energy Executives for Business, Networking, and Employment Opportunities

Cars, Clothes, and Endless Nights

The Regret That Came Too Late

From Millionaire to Handyman in Salvador

What Would You Do Differently If You Won Today?

For 45 years, Spain and Morocco have been trying to connect Europe to Africa through a project of just 14 kilometers in the Strait of Gibraltar, and an active tectonic fault on the seabed continues to make the project nearly impossible.

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Where there was only sand and wind at 40 degrees, China built a megacity of 500,000 inhabitants with farms, wineries, and universities in the middle of the desert using melted glacier water from hundreds of kilometers away.

Weighing over 50 tons and measuring up to 11 meters, giant propellers are shaped from incandescent metal, polished with extreme precision, and propel 300-meter ships across the world’s oceans.

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