New Zealand can be a small place when you have a secret to
hide - so imagine having one worth $20.5 million.
The country's newest millionaire has managed to stay in the
shadows this week as he comes to terms with his new-found
Lotto fortune.
He has so far said very little, except that he loves vintage
motorcycles and was in Invercargill for the Burt Munro
Challenge when he bought his ticket.
Timaru hosts a classic motorcycle show next weekend where the
$20 million man is expected to be if he is an enthusiast, as
he claimed in his anonymous press statement.
It is a "small world" in the South Island and nothing stays
secret for too long, Classic Action Motorcycle Sport (CAMS)
president Neil Morrison said.
"I'm damn sure everyone there will be talking about it," Mr
Morrison said of the CAMS event on December 6.
"It's such a small world that we live in that I think if it
was someone close to us we would have maybe found out.
"You can't keep secrets in this place."
The lucky Lotto millionaire hid his Powerball ticket hidden
in his sock drawer before claiming the prize.
He said he deliberately delayed checking his ticket because
he wanted "the magic of thinking I could be a millionaire to
last a bit longer".
Now that the big win has been confirmed, the identity of the
man with newly-found deep pockets is the topic of much
speculation.
Motorcycle clubs up and down the South Island have little to
report as far as concrete evidence of who it might be.
Most club members agree the win could mean a windfall for
anyone selling vintage bikes.
The South Island's new Richie Rich - who has plans to now
"really indulge my liking for vintage motorcycles" - probably
has enough money to buy all the vintage bikes in New Zealand,
Mr Morrison said.
"This man can afford the best motorcycles in the world.
"He could go just about anywhere these days and do just about
whatever he likes.
"He probably wouldn't be fluffing around trying to buy things
other people have got here."
What you could buy with $20.5 million
- The Coatesville mansion currently occupied by Kim
Dotcom
- 40 Auckland homes
- 9.3 million litres of unleaded petrol
- An Andy Warhol photographic silkscreen which sold this
month for US$16.3 million
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