What happened to the UK's biggest lottery winners?
A mysterious individual has stepped up to claim the third-largest National Lottery jackpot in history.
On Thursday, Allwyn, the company that runs the lottery, announced that a ticket holder from the UK had won the £177 million EuroMillions jackpot on Tuesday.
The claim will undergo a verification process as the individual considers whether to share it publicly.
If they win, the unknown individual would be richer than former One Direction star Harry Styles and heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, both of whom have a net worth of £175 million, according to the most recent Sunday Times Rich List.
The numbers drawn were 07, 11, 25, 31, and 40, along with Lucky Stars 09 and 12.
The person who holds the ticket is now richer than Harry Styles. (Reuters)
An anonymous ticket holder from the UK won a historic EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19, 2022.
The winner from Tuesday is in second place, trailing Joe and Jess Thwaite from Gloucester, who won a historic £184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket in the draw held on May 10, 2022.
So, what became of some of the earlier big winners? In this section, Yahoo News UK explores the top 10 biggest lottery winners in the UK and how these individuals chose to use their unexpected wealth...
On July 19, 2022, a ticket holder from the UK won an astonishing £195 million in the EuroMillions, marking it as the largest win in National Lottery history.
Joe And Jess Thwaite Win £184 Million Jackpot
Joe and Jess Thwaite, hailing from Gloucester, won an astonishing £184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket in the lottery draw held on May 10, 2022, setting a new record at the time.
At that time, Mr. Thwaite worked as a sales engineer in the communications sector, while Mrs. Thwaite managed a hairdressing salon along with her sister.
Mrs. Thwaite mentioned back then that the pair were organizing a trip to Hawaii, a destination their two children had often dreamed about.
In 2022, Joe and Jess Thwaite won more than £180 million. (PA)
She expressed, “This victory allows us the opportunity to dream, something we haven’t had the chance to do before. We’ve spent a week reflecting on this, and now we have the luxury to share numerous experiences and enjoy adventures with our loved ones…”
"Seeing the joy on their faces when we bring these dreams to life will be priceless."
Mr. Thwaite mentioned that he was busy with work on the day of the lottery draw. By 4 PM, he realized he should "probably get a ticket" since he knew about the jackpot.
He mentioned, "Honestly, I'm not very lucky overall."
Joe and Jess Thwaite purchased their ticket just a few hours before the drawing occurred. (PA)
Mr. Thwaite mentioned that when he got an email informing him that he had won a prize, he initially thought it was just a stroke of luck.
"I glanced at the total and set my phone aside. After a moment, I picked it up again to check the amount once more. Initially, I believed it was in the thousands," he remarked, mentioning that he thought it could be "a game-changer."
However, he then began to tally the numbers, remarking, “Incredible, yet also dreamlike.”
When asked if there is something they have always wanted to purchase, Mrs. Thwaite replied, “We aren't particularly materialistic. If you saw our home, you would understand. I think I might get a new car or something similar, but we don’t have a long list of desires... what we would really love is to go on a family vacation.”
Unclaimed Ticket Worth £177 Million
The victor from Tuesday has now joined the ranks of ultra-wealthy stars like Harry Styles and Anthony Joshua. Both are believed to be worth around £175 million, which is £2 million less than the most recent EuroMillions jackpot winner.
The fourth-largest winner in the history of the National Lottery claimed £170 million in October 2019 by correctly matching all the numbers in a Must Be Won drawing.
Colin And Chris Weir: £161 Million Fortune
In July 2011, Colin and Chris Weir from Largs, North Ayrshire, achieved a remarkable milestone by winning a substantial lottery prize, which at that time made them the largest winners in the UK.
Mr. Weir mentioned soon after their victory that he and his partner, who have two kids, have always managed their finances carefully. However, the newfound wealth will create an entirely different lifestyle for them.
He expressed, "We have numerous new possibilities to investigate, but we’re not going to hurry. This will be a slow transition for us, allowing for decisions along the way."
Describing the moment they realized they had won, Mrs. Weir shared: “We decided to purchase five Lucky Dips since the jackpot had grown so large. I began marking the numbers I'd matched, but my luck wasn't great at first. Then, on the fifth line, it was like all the circles came together. I had matched every number, but I just couldn't comprehend what I was seeing.”
Colin Weir and his spouse Chris became the top winners when they claimed over £160 million in 2011. (PA)
She mentioned, "We were absolutely delighted. I even enjoyed a glass of white wine, which I usually reserve for Christmas. It truly feels amazing."
Mr. Weir dedicated £2.5 million of his wealth to support his cherished Partick Thistle Football Club, resulting in one of the stadium's stands being named in his honor.
Later on, he obtained a 55% ownership stake in the club, with the intention that it would be transferred to the local community after his passing. He passed away in December 2019 at the age of 71.
In 2013, the couple established the Weir Charitable Trust and contributed £1 million to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014. They ended their marriage the same year that Mr. Weir passed away.
Adrian And Gillian Bayford: £148.7 Million Win
In August 2012, Adrian and Gillian Bayford from Haverhill, Suffolk, struck it big by winning €190 million in a EuroMillions lottery drawing, which amounted to just over £148 million.
The pair, parents of two kids, informed journalists back then that they planned to distribute the funds among those who had backed them.
Mr. Bayford admitted that he had managed to persuade his wife that they had both overlooked purchasing a ticket while they were watching the lottery draw. However, after he checked the ticket he had purchased, Mrs. Bayford noted that he appeared to go “a bit pale.”
She remarked, "I looked at the figures on my phone, the television, and online – then we exchanged glances and burst out laughing."
Adrian and Gillian Bayford won the EuroMillions jackpot in 2012. (PA)
The couple mentioned that they spent the entire night online figuring out how to use the money they had recently won.
Mrs. Baysford said, “I struggle to grasp just how much it really is. We've always put in hard work and saved money for vacations or other necessities.”
"We have managed to live within our budget and have had a good quality of life, but we've often felt like we were passing each other by just to make enough money. It will be wonderful to finally have more time together as a family."
The couple purchased a Grade II listed property in Cambridgeshire that featured a cinema and a billiards room. However, the estate was sold in 2021, several years after their divorce, according to The Mirror.
The person who secured the seventh-largest National Lottery prize claimed a Superdraw rollover jackpot in June 2019 but chose to keep their win private.
Following nine consecutive rollovers, a fortunate ticket-holder, who wishes to remain anonymous, won over £122 million in April 2021.
One of the top 10 lottery winners in the UK struck it rich with a Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018.
Frances And Patrick Connolly Win £114M Jackpot
Frances Connolly, who used to work as a social worker and teacher, shared that they embraced and enjoyed a cup of tea together after hitting the jackpot of almost £115 million on New Year’s Day in 2019.
The couple from Moira, County Down, mentioned that they created a list of 50 family members and friends to share their newfound luck with, but they haven't informed any of them yet.
The couple with three daughters mentioned that they marked their victory in a simple manner.
Frances and Patrick Connolly won £115 million in the EuroMillions lottery during the New Year’s Day drawing in 2019. (PA)
Mrs. Connolly shared back then, “Excitement isn't really our style – maybe I did raise my voice slightly when I learned the news – but we marked the occasion with a cup of tea and a warm hug.”
“This is a significant amount of money, and we hope it will greatly affect the lives of our loved ones and our own future. This win opens up opportunities for us to create a positive change for our family and friends.”
After their victory, Mrs. Connolly established two charitable organizations and believes she has donated around £60 million to various charitable initiatives, along with supporting friends and family.
She believes that assisting others has become a habit for her, explaining, “It’s exhilarating and hard to resist. I find myself hooked on it now.”
