German man sells private island won in Haribo contest

Matthias Roß, a 44-year-old from Bavaria, is selling a 6.5-hectare private island in Nova Scotia, Canada, which he won in a Haribo sweepstakes in 2005. The property, known as Back Lake Islands, is being offered through the broker Vladi Private Islands for approximately 348,000 Canadian dollars (roughly 220,000 euros).

The island features an 85-square-meter log cabin with two bedrooms and a bathroom, a pier, a shed, a generator, two small boats, and an adjacent wetland area. The property is located in the Shelburne district, about 30 minutes from local amenities.

Roß has used the island as a family retreat for 21 years. He noted that maintaining the property has become increasingly difficult and costly, citing annual property taxes of around 2,500 euros and the logistical challenges of travel. The original 2005 contest was a major promotional campaign for the confectionery brand, featuring television personality Thomas Gottschalk.