Venugopal Mullacheri becomes the 500th winner of Dubai Duty Free’s Millennium Millionaire draw
Venugopal Mullacheri, an Indian expat in the UAE, has won a life-changing $1 million (approximately ₹8.3 crore) in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw, marking the 500th victory in the history of this promotion, reported hindustantimes.com.
The 52-year-old father of two, originally from Kerala, works in IT support in Ajman. He had been trying his luck for over 15 years, regularly purchasing tickets for the draw. On April 23, he bought his ticket at the Terminal 2 Arrivals shop, and when the live draw aired on Dubai Duty Free’s Facebook page, Mullacheri was stunned to hear that his ticket number, 1163, had won him the $1 million prize in Millennium Millionaire Series 500.
After 15 years of trying, Mullacheri’s persistence paid off with a landmark win, making him the 249th Indian national to win the coveted prize.
“I’m delighted to become the 500th winner of the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire,” Mullacheri said after hearing the news. “I’m thrilled to finally be one of the many winners it has created. Thank you so much Dubai Duty Free.”
Despite the excitement, Mullacheri admitted he couldn’t process the win initially, saying, “I couldn’t even respond.” His win also places him in a special group of winners, as Indian nationals have historically been the most frequent purchasers of tickets since the promotion’s inception in 1999. Mullacheri’s victory marks a historic milestone as he becomes the 249th Indian national to win the $1 million prize.
