Lottery winner remains grounded despite 500 million ruble prize

In 2017, Natalia Vlasova, a resident of the Panino settlement in Voronezh Region, won 506 million rubles (approximately $5,060,000 at current rates) in a lottery. RIA Novosti reported on how the woman lives now.

Employees of the local post office told journalists where the winning ticket was purchased, and after the win, “real madness” reigned in the settlement.

“They almost ran after her, saying: ‘Give me a million.’ They wrote to her on social media, stood by her house,” — postal employees recall. For the numerous letters with requests for help, they even had to install a separate mailbox.

The situation escalated to the point that the woman started receiving threats. She had to lock herself at home and not go out for several weeks. Many expected her to leave the settlement, but Natalia stayed. On a plot owned by her husband, she built a brick house, which locals call “not the most luxurious.” She also bought apartments in Voronezh for her daughters and cars for the whole family.

However, the millionaire’s lifestyle has hardly changed. Neighbors note that the woman still goes to the local market for seedlings, buys groceries in regular stores, and often visits the post office.

“No, she didn’t become arrogant. And externally, she’s the same: modest clothing, hairstyle,” — postal office employees assert.

The family vacationed on standard tours to Turkey and Crimea, not at luxury resorts. However, she actively engaged in charity, helping mainly those she knew personally. She helped with the funeral of the son of the post office employee who sold her the winning ticket, transferred money for the treatment of a girl with cancer, renovated the toilets at the local school, and made a donation to the church.