The salary that turned into a jackpot
This story might make anyone glance twice at their next bank statement. An employee at Consorcio Industrial de Alimentos, a major Chilean food company, found himself the surprise recipient of a windfall that would make most lottery winners envious: instead of his regular payment, he was credited with over 165 million Chilean pesos—around €172,000 (or approximately $187,000), instead of the modest 500,000 pesos (just €522, or about $570) that he was supposed to receive.
Let’s put that into perspective: he received about 330 times his usual salary. All this, without ever having to pick a single winning number!
Discovery and the disappearing act
The story begins on May 30, 2022. Upon noticing the error in his bank account, the man—an assistant dispatcher—did what many would consider the right thing and promptly informed the assistant manager of the distribution center. He reported that his wages for the month were, to say the least, a little bit higher than anticipated.
The manager relayed the information and assured everyone that the employee had promised to visit the bank and return the overpaid amount. But then, in a plot twist worthy of a telenovela, the employee seemed to have a change of heart: he vanished for three days. Instead of returning with a slip from the bank, he reappeared only to hand in his resignation—delivered through a lawyer, no less.
The legal showdown
The wheels of justice sometimes turn slowly, but on September 8, 2025, the long-anticipated hearing finally took place. The outcome? Perhaps not what the company had hoped for. The judge acquitted the former employee, much to the disappointment of his ex-employer, and economic daily Diario Financiero reported on the decision.
“Cial will take all possible legal actions, including filing for annulment, to ensure this outcome is reviewed,”
the company told a Chilean newspaper. Clearly, they’re not planning to let this extraordinary payday go without a fight.
How does this compare elsewhere?
While this all played out in Chile, the article notes that in France, employers have three years to act in cases of accidental overpayment. If the employee is still on the payroll, such issues can often be sorted out more informally, which might just save everyone a good deal of drama (and legal fees).
All in all, this tale is a reminder to double-check those pay stubs—and to wonder, just for a moment, what you’d do in the same situation.
