Italian Businessman Wins Lottery, Shares Jackpot with his Employees

[Rome] La Repubblica has reported that an Italian businessman has kept his promise and is sharing a third of his 963,000 euros ($1.64 million) SuperEnalotto win with his employees.

“If I win, we’ll share it”, Marco Colombo, had shouted to his workers a few days before entering last weeks lottery.

The jackpot climbed to more than 130 million euros ($221.77 million), the newspaper said.

On Monday the 38-year old businessman, who runs a small metalworking business in the northern city of Turbigo, kept his promise and gave each of his five workers 70,000 euros ($120,000).

And this kept promise is during a time when Mr Colombo’s business is facing difficulties due to the economic crisis.

Una grande promessa, da un grande uomo.

Lotto fever continued to sweep Italy on Wednesday as the jackpot for six winning numbers, which has not been won for seven months, reached 131.5 million euros ($224.33 million), beating the previous European record of 126 million euros ($214.94 million).

The Italian church expressed alarm on Wednesday at the “idolisation” triggered by the game. The Catholic magazine Famiglia Cristiana is calling on authorities and organizers to donate the jackpot to victims of the earthquake that struck L’Aquila back April.

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by Donna Petrongolo