An astonishing stroke of luck transformed retired Indian engineer Sriram Rajagopalan’s life when he won Rs 225 crore (approximately $27 million or Dh100 million) in the Emirates Draw MEGA7 game. What began as a routine interaction with his phone culminated in one of the largest lottery prizes ever claimed by an Indian.
Sriram, a Chennai resident who spent over two decades working in Saudi Arabia before returning to India, hadn’t participated in a lottery draw for some time. However, a recent impulse led him to try his luck again. On March 16, he matched the winning numbers. According to a press statement from Emirates Draw, Sriram “tapped random numbers on his phone using a stylus with his eyes closed.”
“When I saw the results, I couldn’t believe it. I replayed the draw video and even took a screenshot of the winning numbers,” he stated, as quoted by Khaleej Times.
The 2023 retiree described the monumental win as “70 per cent happiness, 30 per cent fear,” acknowledging the sheer scale of the windfall. “It’s a huge amount. I’ve never managed anything like this before,” he remarked. “But this win isn’t just for me; it’s a hope for my family, my children, and everyone reading. Every father dreams of securing their children’s future — and now I can. This is a chance to build generational wealth.”
Having grown up in a humble, middle-class household in Chennai, Sriram moved to Saudi Arabia in 1998, where he and his wife raised their two sons. After retiring in 2023, he returned to his hometown seeking a quieter life, only to be met with this extraordinary turn of events.
While Sriram has yet to unveil specific plans for his winnings, he has committed a portion to charity. “I have bigger choices to make now compared to when I was a regular employee. So yes, it might change my life but not who I am,” he shared, as reported by Khaleej Times.
The Emirates Draw, operated by Tycheros, had temporarily halted its UAE operations at the close of 2023 due to new regulations from the UAE’s Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). After failing to secure the country’s national lottery license—now held by The Game LLC, operator of The UAE Lottery—the company redirected its focus toward global markets.