Our Story
Like All Good Stories,
Ours Starts with Magic.
Well, Magic Johnson, that is. In 2011, our Co-Founder and CEO Matt went to a charity event. Up for auction? The chance to play basketball with Magic Johnson and attend a Lakers game.
Magic was Matt’s childhood hero. Playing basketball with him would be a dream come true. But with bids going up and the experience only available to the high-net-worth individuals in the room, Matt and future Co-Founder Ryan couldn’t afford to take part.
This got them thinking: Why should experiences like these only be available to a select few? What if anyone could put in $10 for the chance to win? Surely this would raise so much more for charity and give everyone the chance to follow their dreams?
Soon, they set out to make a little magic of their own…
In 2012, Omaze Was Born.
Created by Matt and Ryan, Omaze offered anyone the chance to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences while raising funds and awareness for great causes.
An entertainment company with a social purpose, the concept was loved by some of the world’s best-known athletes, personalities and entertainers—and soon, they wanted to take part.
Offering prizes like ‘Ride in a Tank with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Crush Things’, ‘Have John Legend Play at Your Wedding’, ‘Play Tennis with Serena Williams’, or ‘Win a Lamborghini Where Pope Francis Hands You the Keys’, thousands of winners got to follow their dreams. And the best part? The Omaze Community raised hundreds of millions of dollars for charities like UNICEF, Feeding America, Make-a-Wish and Team Rubicon.
But in 2018, Matt's Life Changed.
Following complications from a condition at birth, Matt was rushed to the hospital. He flatlined for four and a half minutes, and, through a series of medical miracles (and the heroism of his Mom), he was saved. But his near-death experience sparked a change…
Instead of offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences, what if we actually transformed someone’s life?
The Omaze Million Pound House Draw Goes Live.
In 2020, the Omaze Million Pound House Draw launched in the UK. Each month, the Omaze Community would have the chance to win multi-million-pound homes, supercars, and incredible cash prizes—all while raising funds for some of the UK’s biggest and best-loved charities.
Partnering with the likes of Teenage Cancer Trust, British Heart Foundation, the RSPCA, and Age UK—and supported by iconic ambassadors including Olivia Colman, Brian Cox, and David Beckham—the draw has created over 50 millionaires so far, and raised millions more for incredible causes.
In 2025, Germany Joins in.
With Omaze in Germany for the first time, teacher Burak became the first-ever German house winner—now the proud owner of a luxury home in one of the most picturesque parts of the country.
The draw raised €1M for SOS Children’s Villages, helping young people without families get the care and education they need.
A Hundred (Million) Reasons to Feel Proud.
In 2025, the Omaze Community celebrated a landmark moment: raising £100M for UK charities in just five years.
With the money raised supporting everything from a world-leading Children’s Cancer Centre to life-saving air ambulances (equipped with the machines that saved Matt’s life), together, the Omaze Community had made a real difference. And the best part? They’re only just getting started…
And in the Next Chapter...
No spoilers, but if you’re looking for more prizes, more locations and more life-changing, jaw-dropping moments, then sit tight.
Great news for great causes, too: we’re pledging over $50M a year to help our charity partners in the UK, supporting their life-changing work.
