Millionaire Before Starting College: Indian-Origin Teen Wins $1M Lottery At Dubai Duty Free

Last Updated:August 07, 2025, 19:26 IST

Wayne Nash D’Souza, 18, wins $1 million in Dubai Duty Free raffle before starting aerospace engineering at University of Illinois

Dubai Duty Free confirmed Wayne is the 255th Indian national to win the $1 million prize since the Millennium Millionaire promotion began in 1999. (Image via X/@DubaiDutyFree)

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.

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.

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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...

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Location :

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

First Published:

August 07, 2025, 19:26 IST

News world Millionaire Before Starting College: Indian-Origin Teen Wins $1M Lottery At Dubai Duty Free

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