Small Town's $41 Million Lottery Win Saved by Last-Minute Deal

A ticket sales error threatened to ruin a Spanish town's Christmas lottery win. But a last-minute deal now ensures all winners will get their money. The town of Villamanín, with fewer than 1,000 residents, celebrated winning Spain's iconic "El Gordo" (The Fat One) jackpot on Monday. The total prize was nearly €35 million (US$41.2 million). However, a mistake by the local ticket vendor put the celebration at risk. The vendor accidentally sold too many tickets with the winning number. This meant the prize money would have been split too thinly, leaving some winners with far less than expected. To solve the problem, the vendor, the town council, and other major ticket holders reached a compromise. They agreed to give up part of their own shares. Spanish media reported the agreement on Saturday. It ensures every holder of the winning ticket will receive almost the full amount originally promised.