The question, “What would you do if you won ‘El Gordo’?” echoes through Spain each year as the Christmas Lottery draws near. Most ponder how they’d spend the money, but few consider how they’d celebrate. This year, the winning number 79,432, brought joy to both León and Madrid, but with starkly different reactions.
A Silent Victory in Madrid’s La Elipa
On December 22, 2025, Esther Lanzas, owner of Madrid’s lottery administration No. 246 on Ricardo Ortiz street in the La Elipa neighborhood, found herself at the center of a whirlwind. She had sold 16 series of the coveted 79,432. The news reached her not through official channels, but from the press. “I started crying. I called my husband and my parents. I was expecting a quiet day, but it’s been crazy,” she exclaimed, still visibly emotional.
Esther inherited the family business from her parents, José and Nieves, who opened the office in 1988. They were all present, though unprepared for the sudden media frenzy. Her husband, Arlo, rushed back to the administration, honking his horn in joyful anticipation. Even the celebratory champagne was still at the supermarket. After years of not distributing a major prize, this was a day of improvisations, a day they never expected to be in the spotlight. “And me, with this hair!” Esther joked, still beaming.
Who Held the Winning Tickets?
Amidst the chaos, Esther revealed that 10 of the winning series were purchased by “an association from Madrid, but not from this neighborhood.” The remaining tickets were sold to local residents in the days leading up to the draw. Ramona, a regular customer, rushed off to check her ticket, unsure if she had won. Javier, another long-time patron, arrived to play his weekly ‘Primitiva’ and found himself in the midst of the excitement, only to discover his number wasn’t the lucky one.
The identity of the association remained a mystery. Esther, keen to protect their anonymity, would only hint at their connection to the Embajadores neighborhood and their long-standing patronage, purchasing tickets for “seven or eight years.” She mentioned that an “older man” had specifically requested a number ending in two this year. Whispers suggested it was an “art association,” but later, an unconfirmed tip via WhatsApp hinted at a “political thought” association.
The Contrast: León’s Unbridled Joy
While Madrid’s winners remained discreet, the scene in León was a stark contrast. The fortunate recipients poured into the streets, uncorking champagne, donning Santa hats and reindeer antlers, openly sharing their jubilation. Their public celebration highlighted the quiet anonymity chosen by the Madrid winners.
Journalists, who had flocked to a closed-off location in the Ercilla street, hoping for a glimpse of the Madrid winners, were met with silence. “I wouldn’t go to the administration if I won either,” one journalist remarked, a sentiment echoed by others. It seems the Madrid association preferred to savor their victory in private, a decision that will undoubtedly inspire next year’s Christmas Lottery advertisement scriptwriters.
According to a source close to the association, they will remain “totally discreet” this year. But the public celebrations in León serve as a vibrant reminder of the joy that ‘El Gordo’ can bring, inspiring others to dream of becoming next year’s winners.
Source: https://www.rtve.es/rtve/20251222/esther-vende-gordo-madrid-pero-nadie-celebra-comprado-asociacion/16870039.shtml
