A few UK players were lucky enough to win nine-figure lottery prizes, thus becoming a millionaire in the blink of any eye. The biggest lotto win recorded in the UK was a £195 million EuroMillions jackpot on July 19, 2022.
Stick around to find out the 10 biggest lottery winners in the UK and how they spent their money.
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10 Biggest Lottery Winners in the UK
These 10 biggest lottery winners are all from EuroMillion draws. Let’s take a look at them below.
Anonymous – £195,707,000
The biggest win in the UK till today is a EuroMillions jackpot prize of £195.7 million won by an anonymous person on July 19th, 2022. This win surpassed the previous record of £184 million that was held for two months, which will be discussed below.
We’re not sure what this person did with their winnings as they chose to remain hidden from the public eye.
Joe and Jess Thwaite – £184,262,899.10
Joe and Jess, a couple from Gloucester bagged a Lucky Dip ticket of £184.2 million on May 10, 2022. Joe received the shocking news of his big win the next morning and initially didn’t tell his wife immediately, who was asleep. They sold their house to a mother and daughter who relocated from South Africa to the UK.
Jesse revealed that, “We’ve had a family meal, we went and had a family meal so we could share with our family. To tell the truth, we bought bedroom furniture. We bought a chest of drawers and a wardrobe. Other than that we haven’t done anything.” After their win, they kept a low profile.
Anonymous – £171,815,297
An anonymous scooped a September’s Superdraw jackpot of £171.8 million on 23rd September, 2022. We do not know what they did with their winnings as they did not disclose their identity to the public.
Anonymous – £170,221,000
A lucky player matched all the numbers in a Must Be Won draw, scooping a win of £170.2 million on 8th October, 2019.
Colin and Chris Weir – £161,653,000
Colin and Christine, a couple from Largs, Ayrshire, won a EuroMillions jackpot of £161.6 million on July 12th, 2011. Colin invested £2.5 million in Partick Thistle Football Club and a stand was named after him. They both set up the Weir Charitable Trust in 2013 to help the Scottish communities.
The couple divorced in 2019 and Colin died on 27th, December in the same year, aged 71.
Adrian and Gillian Bayford – £148,656,000
Adrian and Gillian Bayford from Haverhill, Suffolk, won a EuroMillions jackpot of £148.6 million on August 10th, 2012. The prize was initially higher than that of Colin and Chris but dropped due to the euro/pound sterling exchange rate at the time.
They bought an estate in Cambridgeshire with a cinema and billiards room. The couple divorced 15 months later the house was sold in 2021.
Anonymous – £123,458,008
An anonymous player won a Superdraw rollover jackpot of £123.4 million on 11th June, 2019.
Anonymous – £122,550,350
After nine rollovers, an anonymous player bagged a jackpot of £122.5 million on 2nd April, 2021.
Anonymous – £121,328,187
An anonymous ticket holder scooped a Superdraw rollover jackpot of £121.3 million on 24th April, 2018.
Frances and Patrick Connolly – £114,969,775
Frances and Patrick, a couple from Moira, Northern Ireland, won a Lucky Dip ticket of £114.9 million on 1st January, 2019. She and husband set up two charities after their win.
Biggest UK Lotto Wins
Date | Details |
---|---|
January 2016 | David and Carol Martin from Hawick shared a £66 million jackpot with an anonymous person. The two parties got £33 million each. |
January 1996 | Three anonymous players split a $42 million Lotto jackpot, each walking home with £14 million. |
February 2016 | Gerry and Lisa Cannings from Peterborough won a £32.5 million jackpot |
June 1995 | Mark Gardiner and Paul Maddison shared a single-ticket win of £22.5 million. |
July 2004 | Iris Jeffrey from Belfast won a £20 million jackpot. |
Biggest Syndicates Wins in the UK
Date | Details |
---|---|
November 2009 | Seven office workers from Merseyside split a jackpot of £91.1 million with another player. The seven workers further split their £45.5 million, each member walking home with £6.5 million. |
March 2012 | Twelve bus drivers from Northamptonshire won a £38 EuroMillions prize, each receiving £3.1 million. |
July 2013 | Ten office workers from Merseyside won a £28.8 EuroMillions prize, each member receiving £2.8 million. |
Conclusion
Winning the lottery is every player’s dream and can instantly change one’s life. Remember that it is a game of luck and you can not alter or predict the outcome.
Check out our recommendations of online lottery services. Purchase your tickets and try your luck!
FAQs
Can Foreigners Play the UK Lottery?
Only UK residents aged 18 and over can play the UK National Lottery. However, foreigners can participate in EuroMillions and Thunderball from wherever they are.
When Was the First National Lottery Held?
The first National Lottery was held by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 1 in 1567. The ticket cost 10 shillings (50p) with the top prize being £5000.
What's the Biggest Unclaimed Lottery Prize?
The biggest unclaimed lottery prize was £63.8 million from EuroMillions on 8th June, 2012.
Do Lottery Tickets Expire?
Yes, the UK lottery tickets are valid for 180 days from the draw date. If the ticket holder does not claim the prize within this timeframe, the money will be transferred to the National Lottery Projects funds.
Are Lottery Winnings Taxed in the UK?
Lottery Winnings are not subject to tax in the UK because His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not treat lottery prizes as a source of income.
Must I Disclose My Identity After Winning the Lottery?
It's entirely up to you if you want to go public about your lottery winnings or remain anonymous. Whatever option you choose, your prize remains unchanged and the National Lottery will provide the same level of support.