Stefan Mandel, a Romanian-Australian mathematician, defied the staggering odds of winning the lottery not once, but an incredible 14 times. While most of us rely on luck and random number combinations, Mandel took a different approach. He used simple math to increase his chances of hitting the jackpot.

Mandel didn’t embark on this journey alone. He formed a syndicate called the International Lotto Fund and teamed up with a group of investors. Together, they targeted lotteries in the US, Romania, and Australia. And guess what? Their strategy paid off.

So, what was their secret? It all boils down to Mandel’s “simple math.” His number-picking algorithm, which he called “combinatorial condensation,” aimed to buy enough lottery tickets to cover every possible combination at a cost lower than the jackpot prize.

In 1992, Mandel’s approach resulted in a mind-boggling $27 million jackpot win. Not stopping there, they also brought home an additional $900,000 in prizes for tickets that placed second, third, and so on. However, their success raised suspicions, and international agencies like the CIA and FBI investigated them for potential wrongdoing.

Fortunately for Mandel and his syndicate, they were eventually cleared of any illegal activities. But the legal battle took a toll on Mandel’s finances, and he ended up declaring bankruptcy in 1995, just three years after his massive win. Undeterred, he spent the following decade running various investment schemes.

However, Mandel’s success prompted the US lottery to change its rules. They prohibited bulk ticket purchases and the use of computer-generated tickets to prevent others from replicating his methods. Despite the rule changes, Mandel’s legacy as a lottery legend was firmly established.

Today, Mandel enjoys his golden years on a remote tropical island, Vanuatu, off the coast of Australia. He claims to have retired from the lottery altogether but remains a risk-taker at heart. As he once said, “I’m a man who takes risks, but in a calculated way.”