PARIS, France — In a story that sounds straight out of a comedic heist film, two unlikely thieves have become France’s most infamous fugitives after using a stolen card to purchase a winning lottery ticket worth a staggering 500,000 euros ($523,000). The plot twist? They vanished without cashing in, leaving both the lottery and their loot tantalizingly out of reach.
Meet Jean-David E., the man at the center of this peculiar caper. When Jean-David’s backpack was swiped from his car in Toulouse, he probably didn’t expect it to lead to a national manhunt. Inside, among other things, was a bank card that later turned out to be the golden ticket—literally. Now, Jean-David is offering to split the cash with the mystery men, if they’ll only return his precious wallet.
The French lottery operator, La Française des Jeux (FDJ), confirmed that the ticket remains unclaimed as of Saturday. Pierre Debuisson, Jean-David’s lawyer, is spearheading the mission to find the culprits—not for justice, but for a share of the fortune. “It’s an incredible story, but it’s all true,” Debuisson shared with the Associated Press.
The saga began when Jean-David noticed his bank card was missing. A quick call to his bank revealed it had been used at a local shop to buy the fateful lottery ticket. Apparently overjoyed with their win, the two men left behind their cigarettes and belongings, wandering off like characters in a slapstick comedy.
Jean-David, with an offer too good to refuse, is ready to drop charges if the elusive winners come forward. “Without them, no one would have won,” he told France-2, adding a touch of gratitude to his plea.
While prosecutors consider the winnings as potentially ill-gotten gains, the lawyer insists on a fair split. Debuisson has issued a public appeal: “You risk nothing … we will share with you,” he promised. Time, however, is ticking, and the ticket has an expiration date.
As the days go by, the suspense builds. Will there be a happy ending for Jean-David and his unwitting partners in crime, or will the ticket’s potential remain a distant dream? Only time—and perhaps a touch of luck—will tell.
