LUXEMBOURG-ADJACENT — The principality of Valdoria, population 41,000, became one of the world’s largest economies on Friday after its finance ministry accidentally purchased a winning EuroMillions ticket while attempting to buy a stamp.
The jackpot, 4.2 billion euros, is roughly 14 times the country’s annual gross domestic product and more than enough to fund its entire government for a decade.
“We would like to thank the cashier, who suggested the ticket,” said Prime Minister Elise Vann in a televised address. “We would also like to apologize to the cashier, whom we initially asked to leave.”
Valdoria announced it would use the money to build a high-speed rail link, endow a university, purchase a seat on the United Nations Security Council (“if available”) and commission a flag “of appropriate scale.”
Neighboring countries have requested meetings. The European Central Bank has requested a meeting. The lottery operator has requested the ticket.
