The shock over the cancer death of the Aargau Euromillions winner Olivia K. * († 50) is deep. Not only with widower Bernd K. * (59), who told her tragic story in Blick and sadly said: “I would rather have my wife back than all the money.”
Swisslos in Basel, where the CHF 183.9 million jackpot from October 2, 2018 was paid out to the then serving daughter, also met the news of death. “I did not know that she died,” says spokesman Willy Mesmer (65). “I’m very sorry, of course.”
The good 184 million were transferred “fairly quickly”
Mesmer is the man who receives the winning tickets, looks after the millionaire winners and arranges the transfers – also with Olivia K. “At that time, I met her personally with her husband in a secret place when it came to the necessary Information and the formalities or the transfer of the 183.9 million francs went, ”said Mesmer. “I remember her as a very down-to-earth and personable woman.”
Olivia K. herself said to Blick in January 2020: “I personally took the Euromillions ticket to Willy in Basel to hand it in. With the post it would have been too risky for me. ” The almost 184 million were transferred “fairly quickly”.
“There are always people who want money”
But Olivia K. could not enjoy the wealth for a long time. At the beginning of the year she was diagnosed with cancer. Last week she lost the battle with the disease. Bernd K. allowed Blick to publish a picture of his wife as a souvenir. However, like Olivia K., he wanted his identity to be protected.
Mesmer, who had Olivia K. on the phone a few times after the payout, had advised her to do so. “Because there are always people who want money from millions of winners.” He had the feeling that, despite the high profit, she had the situation under control very well.
Mesmer wishes “a lot of strength and courage for the future”
Mesmer had last time Olivia K. on the phone “about a year ago” – then the contact broke off. “I didn’t have a personal relationship with her and I always have to stay professional,” he says. Swisslos will not be informed of such deaths. “Except for the win-for-life tickets.” Because: Nobody inherits and the monthly profit pensions expire.
It has never happened before that a millionaire winner died so soon after winning, says Mesmer. Swisslos has never been used as an heir.
Mesmer wishes the widower and the bereaved “a lot of strength and courage for the future, so that they can tackle this well and can continue to live well with the challenge”. He would have indulged Olivia K. “very much if she could have continued to enjoy all the money and her life”.