18-year-old Wayne Nash D’Souza, a student of Indian origin, won a life-changing $1 million in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire raffle just days before starting university in the United States.
Wayne, who is about to begin his undergraduate studies in aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, bought the lucky ticket—Series 510, ticket number 4463—on July 26. He had made the purchase at Concourse A of Dubai International Airport, right before boarding a flight to Los Angeles with his family.
Speaking to Khaleej Times from Los Angeles, Wayne recalled the surreal moment he found out, “I was half asleep and exhausted from a full day at Universal Studios. I didn’t believe it at first, it felt surreal,” he said.
#MillionaireNews An Indian student wins US$1 million, becoming the 255th Indian national to strike it rich, with plans to invest in his and his sister’s future through education – how amazing is that? 🤩 Meanwhile, an Emirati national also claims US$1 million, and an Ethiopian… pic.twitter.com/a3J06yl9Lz
— Dubai Duty Free (@DubaiDutyFree) August 6, 2025
Born and raised in Dubai to parents originally from Mumbai, Wayne shared that his family has been participating in the Dubai Duty Free raffles for decades. “I think my parents buy tickets regularly when they travel. I have been travelling since I was five, but they have probably been doing it for over 30 years,” he explained.
Because he had only recently turned 18, Wayne hadn’t yet set up his own raffle account. Instead, he used his father’s to enter the draw. “I was feeling lucky and had a gut feeling that something good is going to happen,” he added.
When asked about his plans for the prize money, Wayne said the funds would help cover both his and his sister’s educational expenses. The remainder may be used for property investment in Dubai.
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“It will go toward me and my sister’s education, and some of it will be used to buy property or invest in Dubai,” the teen said.
Dubai Duty Free confirmed Wayne is now the 255th Indian national to win the $1 million jackpot since the Millennium Millionaire programme began in 1999. The raffle offers a one-in-5,000 chance of winning, with only 10 winners ever striking gold more than once.