Stolen bank card wins $523K jackpot in France; owner wants to ‘share’ prize with thieves
In a bizarre twist of fate, two thieves who used a stolen bank card to purchase a winning lottery ticket worth 500,000 euros ($523,000) have now become France’s most wanted fugitives—not just by the police, but also by the victim of their crime, who wants to split the winnings with them.
Jean-David E., the man whose wallet was stolen, has made an extraordinary offer: he is willing to drop all charges and share the prize with the culprits—if they come forward. His only other request? He wants his wallet back.
From theft to fortune
Jean-David’s troubles began earlier this month when his backpack was stolen from his car in Toulouse. His wallet, containing bank cards and other documents, was taken. After blocking his card, he discovered that it had already been used at a local shop.
When he visited the store, he learned that two homeless men had used his card to purchase a scratch-off lottery ticket—which turned out to be the jackpot winner. The store’s vendor recalled the moment:
“They were so totally happy that they forgot their cigarettes and their belongings and walked out like crazy people,” said Jean-David’s lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, as reported by the Associated Press.
Winnings remain unclaimed
Despite their apparent stroke of luck, the thieves have not yet claimed their prize. The French state lottery operator, La Française des Jeux (FDJ), confirmed on Saturday that no one has come forward with the ticket.
Jean-David has since filed a police complaint about the theft, but his lawyer has publicly urged the perpetrators to reach out and negotiate a deal before it’s too late.
“Without them, no one would have won,” Jean-David told France-2.
Legal and ethical dilemmas
If the thieves do claim the money, they could face legal repercussions, as prosecutors may argue that the winnings are illegally obtained gains. However, Jean-David’s lawyer is pushing for a different outcome, making a national appeal on Thursday:
“You risk nothing … we will share with you. And you would be able to change your lives.”
With the lottery ticket set to expire, time is running out. If the thieves don’t step forward, their golden ticket could become worthless.
For now, the fate of the winnings—and the identity of the mystery ticket holders—remains unknown.
