Winning the lottery continues to be synonymous, for many, with immediate luxury, financial stability and a hassle-free life, where money seems to solve all problems from one day to the next. However, Bruno Caloone’s story shows that the fate of a big prize, in this case 17 million euros in the lottery, does not always follow this predictable path.
Almost 30 years ago, this former banker from the north of France won the biggest lottery prize ever awarded in the country until then, with a prize of 70 million francs, the equivalent of around 17 million euros. Today, he lives in social housing and feels at peace with the life he leads.
In 1995, Bruno Caloone was 36 years old when his face became known throughout the country, after appearing on television as the big winner of the draw. According to the French regional newspaper La Voix du Nord, the award-winning bulletin was purchased in a café in Azbrück, the same place he continues to frequent decades later.
Overnight, he had practically unlimited possibilities, but also faced complex decisions and responsibilities that he had never imagined. The sudden abundance of money brought opportunities, but also difficult choices.
Generosity and ambitious projects
In the first years after the award, Caloone chose to share a large part of his fortune. He financially helped family, friends and local associations, supported sports clubs and even created his own horse racing team.
He also organized trips for hundreds of people, driven by the conviction that money made more sense when it was used to provide experiences and happiness for others. For Bruno, the award was not just a personal benefit, but an opportunity for collective impact.
One of his most ambitious projects was investing in a meat wholesale company, with the aim of boosting the local economy and preserving jobs in his region. However, the business ended up not being able to withstand market difficulties and closed in 2004. According to the same newspaper, this business adventure resulted in losses of around five million euros, representing one of the most significant financial blows in its history.
A life without regrets
Despite the setbacks, Bruno Caloone never stopped trying new paths. He worked abroad, opened a bakery in Sarajevo and organized trips to Croatia. Many of these projects ended up not being successful, largely due to adverse economic contexts.
After the divorce in 2012, he decided to slow down the pace of his life. He started working in a social support structure and moved to a modest apartment integrated into the French social housing system.
Serene in approaching the present
Far from feeling ashamed, Bruno speaks about his present with serenity. “I’m fine where I am. There’s no shame in living in social housing,” he told French media outlet IEF. He guarantees that he has never experienced total ruin and emphasizes that all the decisions made were part of a consciously chosen path.
Currently, he continues to play the lottery from time to time, always in the same cafe where he bought the winning ticket worth 17 million euros. Looking back, ensures you don’t regret the mistakes you made, according to . For Bruno Caloone, the true value of the prize was not in the money itself, but in the possibility of helping other people and implementing projects that, without that stroke of luck, he would never have even imagined.
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