Indian-Origin Engineer Wins $1 Million in Lucky Draw, Thanks to a Gift for His Wife

In a heartwarming twist of fate, an Indian-origin man living in Singapore has won a grand prize of US$1 million (over ₹8 crore) in a lucky draw, thanks to his thoughtful purchase of a gold chain for his wife three months ago.

Balasubramanian Chithambaram, a project engineer who has worked in Singapore for 21 years, won the top prize in a lucky draw organized by Mustafa Jewellery on Sunday, November 24. The draw was part of the store’s annual event held at the Civil Service Club @ Tessensohn. To be eligible for the draw, customers needed to spend over S$250 at the store, and Chithambaram had bought gold ornaments worth S$6,000 for his wife during a visit.

Chithambaram, visibly emotional and moved by his good fortune, shared that the win came on the fourth anniversary of his father’s death. “Today is also my father’s fourth death anniversary. It’s a blessing,” he said, adding that he would share the good news with his mother. As a gesture of gratitude, Chithambaram also plans to donate a portion of his winnings to the local community in Singapore, where he has lived and worked for many years.

The lucky draw was not an isolated event, as many other customers also won smaller prizes worth US$5,000 each during the store’s monthly draws. Chithambaram’s win is a shining example of how an everyday act—like buying a gift for a loved one—can sometimes lead to life-changing rewards.

Interestingly, Chithambaram is not the only one to have benefitted from his wife’s advice. In April 2023, a man from Klang, Malaysia, won RM 3 million (S$900,000) after taking his wife’s suggestion to buy a Big Sweep lottery ticket. Like Chithambaram, he credited his good fortune to his wife’s guidance.

These stories highlight how, sometimes, the smallest decisions—whether buying jewelry or playing the lottery—can result in extraordinary outcomes.