Renato Bolsonaro, a pre-candidate for federal deputy in São Paulo, said on Thursday evening that a family lottery pool including his brother, former president Jair Bolsonaro, matched four of the six numbers drawn in Brazil’s Mega da Virada.
The draw, conducted by Caixa Económica Federal, produced the numbers 09, 13, 21, 32, 33 and 59. Renato Bolsonaro told supporters the family pool returned a quadra formed by 13, 21, 32 and 59. He said the family has traditionally made joint bets with Jair Bolsonaro and other relatives, and noted the group also secured a quadra in last year’s draw.
Bolsonaro family lottery draws attention
Renato highlighted the symbolic nature of one of the drawn numbers. The number 13 is commonly associated with the Workers’ Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores), led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, while the number 22 is linked to the Liberal Party (Partido Liberal), the Bolsonaro family’s political home. Renato said the 22 did not come up this time but joked that the PL would prevail in 2026.
“This year we placed the bet in three tickets and I could not leave my brother (Jair, who is imprisoned) out,” Renato wrote on social media. “This time the 22 did not appear, but in 2026 you can note that 22 will win. We start 2026 with luck!”
The comments came on the same day Jair Bolsonaro was discharged from hospital after surgery to repair a bilateral inguinal hernia and to address episodes of hiccupping. Following his discharge, Bolsonaro was transferred to the Superintendence of the Federal Police in Brasília, where he is serving a sentence of 27 years and three months for offences including attempts to overthrow democratic institutions.
Lottery pools, or “bolões”, are a longstanding feature of Brazilian culture, particularly around the Mega da Virada, the annual year-end draw that traditionally attracts large participation and significant media attention. The Mega da Virada is administered by Caixa and does not roll over, meaning prizes are distributed among winners if there is more than one exact match.
Observers noted the mixture of political symbolism and family banter in Renato’s public remarks. While the result of a lottery has no bearing on political contests, the adoption of party numbers in a family bet underscores how political identity can surface in everyday moments. Renato’s reference to the 13 and 22 drew attention because those numerals are shorthand for rival parties in Brazil’s multiparty electoral system.
The family’s disclosure of the quadra follows a period of intense public scrutiny over Jair Bolsonaro’s legal troubles. His imprisonment and recent medical treatment continue to be focal points in Brazil’s national conversation ahead of the 2026 electoral cycle.
For now, the story remains a human-interest item that blends politics, family ritual and the national pastime of lottery betting rather than a development with policy implications. Renato Bolsonaro’s announcement is likely to be discussed in political circles for its rhetorical flourishes, but it is the electoral calendar and judicial proceedings that will determine the broader political stakes in the months ahead.
Key Takeaways:
- The Bolsonaro family pool matched four of six numbers in the Mega da Virada, organisers reported.
- The numbers 13, 21, 32 and 59 formed the successful quadra for the Bolsonaro family lottery.
- Renato Bolsonaro, a pre-candidate for federal deputy, said the group regularly plays together and joked about future electoral ambitions.
- Former president Jair Bolsonaro, recently hospitalised and now in custody, was included in the family bet.
