DUBAI: A 26-year-old accountant from Kerala, India, has won $4 million in Emirates Draw after five of his 11 EASY6 tickets secured prizes across every prize tier in the same draw, marking a first in the draw’s history.
Melvin Francis purchased the tickets on August 21, 2026, and received a call from Emirates Draw on August 26 informing him of his win. He is the youngest among the nine grand prize winners announced by the draw so far.
The life-changing news reached Melvin during a break at work, where he remained composed despite learning that he had become a millionaire.
“If I shouted, everyone would understand that something big has happened. So, I just kept my composure,” he said.
Melvin’s five winning tickets covered every EASY6 prize tier, including the $4 million grand prize. He initially saw a shared prize of $8,333 for matching five numbers in his account. The grand prize appeared after security and identity verification procedures were completed.
“Looking back, it makes complete sense,” Melvin said, adding that he appreciated the measures taken to protect major prize winners.
Born in Kerala and educated in Bangalore, Melvin chose accounting because of his interest in numbers rather than science. He worked while completing his degree, which took longer than usual, and later earned his US Certified Management Accountant (CMA) qualification.
He is currently pursuing an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) while working full time alongside his father in the family business in the Gulf region. Melvin said he gave his first salary to his father, who bears responsibility for supporting the family, and kept only the minimum amount for himself.
His mother had often advised him to work hard until the age of 30 and save for the future. The $4 million win, he said, had changed that timeline.
“My mother used to always tell me to work hard until 30 and save money for after,” Melvin said. “Now, I’m 26, and with the prize money I don’t need to wait until 30.”
Melvin first learned about Emirates Draw through Instagram interviews featuring previous grand prize winners Sriram R., who won $27 million in MEGA7, and Ajay O., the first $4 million EASY6 winner.
He purchased his first MEGA7 ticket on June 14, 2026, a week after his birthday, and won $14 after matching four numbers. He later watched more winner interviews, studied weekly draws and chose EASY6 based on its ticket price and odds, using the game’s randomiser to select his numbers.
After around two months of playing on weekends, five of his tickets won prizes in the same draw.
When the news reached his family, his father and sister were among the first to be informed. His father wanted to check every ticket himself, while his sister advised him to verify the numbers carefully and make sure the result was genuine.
Melvin said his first priority was to help his father expand the family business so he could retire earlier. He described the prize as a responsibility rather than simply a personal reward.
“Now, with this prize, it’s a different kind of ownership. I would like to ensure I am investing in the right prospects,” he said.
Despite the windfall, Melvin has no plans to give up his job or education. He intends to complete his MBA and pursue the US Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification, which he can now finance himself rather than seeking financial support from his father.
“I want to earn my US CPA qualification. I can now fund it myself rather than asking my father for support,” he said.
Asked whether he hoped to become chief financial officer of the family business one day, Melvin responded with a smile: “That’s every financial professional’s plan of action, I guess.”
Beyond his professional ambitions, he hopes to visit relatives in the United States, travel more widely and contribute towards his brother’s and sister’s weddings. He also has his sights set on the $30 million MEGA7 grand prize and said he had already purchased tickets.
For now, however, he intends to maintain his routine. His alarm still rings at 6:30am, followed by breakfast and a day at the office. He continues to spend his lunch break with his father, whom he credits for shaping his life.
“I am who I am today because of him,” Melvin said.
