An economist outsmarted the lottery and won 14 jackpots. He explains the math

In an era where the odds of winning the lottery are akin to being struck by lightning, one man defied the near-impossible. Romanian economist Stefan Mandel, with the backing of a dedicated syndicate and strategic acumen, managed to clinch 14 lottery jackpots across the globe.

Mandel's journey began with a fundamental understanding of lottery mechanics. "Theoretically, anybody can buy all the possible combinations. Any high school boy or girl can calculate those combinations," he shared in an interview available on YouTube.

What set Mandel apart was his ability to develop a logistical system capable of handling the enormous task of submitting millions of lottery tickets. "Nobody has ever developed a logistical system to lodge such a large amount of play slips," he remarked.

Mandel's strategy involved a meticulous approach: with the help of investors and a syndicate named the International Lotto Fund (ILF), he calculated and purchased all possible ticket combinations. His groundbreaking moment came in February 1992, when he targeted the Virginia lottery.