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Joshua Ptasznyk Micronesia Resort Winner

Joshua Ptasznyk is one lucky man.


The Inertia

A few weeks ago, we ran a story on an Australian couple who was raffling off their entire tropical island resort in Micronesia for just $49. It almost sounded too good to be true—it wasn’t. Today, the results are in. Meet 26-year-old Joshua Ptasznyk, a tax accountant from Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia and the proud new owner of the three-acre waterfront island resort in Kosrae, Micronesia.

Mr. Ptasznyk told the Daily Mail that he randomly clicked on a link to the raffle (likely at TheInertia.com) on his lunch break one day. Little did he know his curiosity would become a “life-changing experience I could only dream of.”

In 1994, Doug and Sally Beitz, from the Gold Coast of Australia, built the resort – Kosrae Nautilus – to escape the chaotic hamster cage of Western society. Recently, they decided to offer it up because they wished to be closer to family in Australia. They explained that they wanted the new owner to be someone who had always dreamed of an island paradise, rather than someone who was simply wealthy and able to afford it.

The three-acre waterfront resort in Kosrae, Micronesia. Absolute paradise. Photo: Caters News Agency

The three-acre waterfront resort in Kosrae, Micronesia. Absolute paradise. Photo: Caters News Agency

“We’ve had our time in the sun and enjoyed a career most people would only dream about, but our current goal is to become professional grandparents,” Doug told the Daily Mail.

The 26-year-old tax accountant beat more than 75,000 people who entered from around the world. His winning ticket, number 44,980, would later be the keys to a three-acre island resort in absolute paradise. Oh, and if you’re wondering if there are waves in Kosrae, check this out.

Aside from the 16-room air-conditioned hotel, a four-bedroom manager residence, and two self-contained one-bedroom apartments, Mr. Ptasznyk will also get a 30-foot fresh water pool, a private beach, four kayaks, a tropical vegetable garden, two diving boats, a scuba business, an 80-seater restaurant, $4,000 of stock and more than $7,000 in a business bank account.

And it all cost him just $49.

 
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