The Accidental Millionaire: Worker Paid 330x His Salary — He Cashed Out, Quit, and Still Won in Court

A Chilean worker’s story has become the talk of the town after a massive payroll error turned him into an unexpected millionaire — and a years-long legal battle ended entirely in his favor.

The man, employed as an assistant at a local food company, received an accidental salary payment of 165 million pesos (approximately RM724,000) instead of his usual 500,000 pesos (around RM2,200) back in May 2022. The staggering mistake meant he was paid 330 times more than his normal monthly wage.

Initially, company officials noticed the error and summoned him to a meeting with the human resources department. During that discussion, he reportedly agreed to return the excess funds. However, what followed shocked his employers — he abruptly resigned from the company just three days later and disappeared without returning the money.

The company quickly filed a lawsuit accusing him of theft and demanding that he repay the amount. They also sought legal punishment, pushing for a possible 540-day jail term and a fine. The case soon gained attention across Chile as it tested the boundaries of employment law and the definition of financial misconduct.

After nearly three years of proceedings, the court delivered a surprising verdict. Judges ruled that the man did not commit theft, as he did not deliberately manipulate company systems or unlawfully access the funds. Instead, they classified the act as an “unauthorised collection,” which under Chilean law, is not considered a punishable criminal offense.

The decision effectively cleared the man of all charges, allowing him to keep his freedom at least for now. The case is one of the most bizarre payroll disputes in recent years, exposing loopholes in corporate accounting procedures and employee liability laws.

However, the man’s former employers have not given up. The company said it would pursue further legal options, including filing for annulment of the ruling, in an attempt to recover the funds.

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