Wed Feb 26 08:37:00 UTC 2025: ## French Lottery Winner Offers to Share €500,000 Jackpot with Thieves Who Stole His Credit Card

**Toulouse, France** – A stroke of incredible luck has led to an unusual situation in Toulouse. Jean-David Estele, a French man, won a €500,000 (approximately Rs 4.57 crore) lottery jackpot, but the winning ticket was purchased using his stolen credit card. Rather than press charges, Estele has offered to share his winnings with the thieves.

According to Estele’s lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, the thieves broke into Estele’s car on February 3rd and used his credit card at a local bar before purchasing the winning lottery ticket. Debuisson stated that Estele believes the thieves are homeless and have since disappeared. He emphasized that while the theft was clearly illegal, the winning ticket wouldn’t exist without both the theft and Estele’s card.

Despite having fingerprints from the scene, police have yet to identify the suspects. Estele has publicly urged the thieves to come forward to claim their share of the winnings. He and his wife plan to use their portion of the money to build a new house. The French lottery organizer, Francaise des Jeux (FDJ), has confirmed that no claim for the prize has yet been made. Police have declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

**(Note: The unrelated story about the North Carolina man winning the lottery based on a dream has been omitted from this news article to maintain focus on the main event.)**

Read More