Many British citizens can’t resist the opportunity to win life-changing sums of money after purchasing relatively inexpensive lottery tickets. Before venturing to a local venue to watch a sporting clash or after completing their weekly shop in a supermarket, many people head to the nearest counter to select their desired numbers. For some, their dreams have come true.
Over the years, we’ve seen large jackpots brought home by people. However, some winners prefer to remain anonymous. Many new millionaires have made themselves known, though. Ultimately, it’s up to each individual winner to decide what they’d like to do, but many winners want to shout it from the rooftops. We see it when people purchase scratch tickets online or win any smaller lotteries, with the feeling of winning a significant injection of cash being hard to replicate elsewhere.
With the biggest EuroMillions winners bringing home prizes of more than £100 million, below we highlight some proud winners who made themselves known to the public, plus a few people who preferred to stay away from the limelight.
£195.7 million was won on 19th July 2022
With £195.7 million up for grabs, it’s hardly surprising to learn that millions of tickets were sold for the EuroMillions jackpot on 19th July 2022. With the summer weather in full flow and British people wanting to try their luck while in a buoyant mood thanks to the warm weather, the lucky winner, who remains nameless, managed to bring home the staggering prize. For the eventual winner, they officially brought home the biggest EuroMillions prize ever.
Joe and Jess Thwaite won £184.2 million
While the aforementioned winner preferred to keep their identity hidden, Joe and Jess Thwaite were more than happy to announce they’d won £184.2 million on Tuesday 10th May 2022. The couple, who are from Gloucester, managed to bring in the huge prize after it built up following 14 consecutive draws without a winner. A Lucky Dip ticket that delivered a new life, the pair are now living a luxurious lifestyle and embarking on memorable escapades with their nearest and dearest.
£177 million was the prize in November 2024
Another anonymous winner who didn’t fancy receiving requests from strangers to lend them a few quid, the prize on offer in the EuroMillions draw in November 2024 was a humongous £177 million. The lucky individual who is now enjoying their earnings had a Christmas to remember, with their friends and family undoubtedly benefiting from this life-changing win. To bring in such a massive amount of money ahead of the most wonderful time of the year is the stuff dreams are made of.
Colin and Chris Weir won over £161 million
Another couple who couldn’t believe their luck, Colin and Chris Weir won over £161 million in July 2011. From Largs in Ayrshire, the pair benefited from a run of 14 rollovers, resulting in an even bigger jackpot prize than usual. Once they went public, the Weirs decided to establish a charitable trust, plus a range of other initiatives that support their local community and the population of Scotland in general. Alongside making some extravagant purchases and enjoying their newfound wealth, both Colin and Chris Weir’s spending is admirable.
Haverhill couple picked up £148.6 million in 2012
In 2012, after purchasing a Lucky Dip ticket from a local shop in Haverhill, Adrian and Gillian Bayford were the lucky winners of the £148.6 million jackpot up for grabs in August. While they invested in things and gifted family members, Adrian’s decision to start a business housing Lady Gaga memorabilia certainly resulted in a few headlines at the time.
Written by James Kelly
This content is sourced from solihullobserver.co.uk and is shared for informational purposes only.
