El Gordo lottery players hope for Christmas win in 'The Fat One' in Spain
The El Gordo lottery, meaning The Fat One, is dishing out €2.4bn (£2.15bn) in prize money, with a top prize of €400,000 for a winning ticket.
The number 03347 was drawn as the top prize winner, with the balls called out three hours after the gala started.
Hopefuls donned bishop costumes and dressed as clowns to attend the draw in the Spanish capital.
El Gordo is held every year on 22 December, and is ranked as the biggest lottery in the world in terms of total prize money.
There are also many smaller prizes making more players winners just before Christmas.
People buy the tickets, which cost €20 (£18) each, months in advance.
Children from San Ildefonso school called out the winning numbers at Madrid’s Theatro Real opera house.
Last year, the celebrations involved plenty of fizz as dozens toasted their big wins.
The national lottery was established in 1763 during the reign of King Carlos III. In recent years it has become a winter holiday tradition, with people glued to the television or radio to hear the results.
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