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A WOMAN has revealed she won the lottery but lost her family in the process.
The single mother explained that she had won just under £14million thanks to a lottery ticket, which now costs just £2.
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But while she was overjoyed at her win, she unfortunately had to deal with ‘greedy’ and ‘spoilt’ relatives who expected her to ‘owe them an income’.
The anonymous woman spoke candidly about her lottery win on Mumsnet, claiming she had been playing the lottery for “over ten years” and describing herself as a “fairly regular player”, before her win.
The woman wrote on social media the caption of her post: “I won the lottery (a few years ago).”
The mother posted a message under the username @NCuserer, emphasizing, “I remained anonymous, which made sense. pointless I told my family and friends and it spread from there.
Read more real life stories
“I won just under £14 million.”
The mother claimed that before her victory she had a full-time job, but that she now earns more money in interest than she did in the nine months she worked.
The woman shared: “I had a fairly safe and reliable job in healthcare with decent advantages and a pension.
“I was earning about £1,800 a month but my expenses were high, about £1,100 to £1,200, this was because of the environment.
“I earn more interest per month than I would in nine months of work.
“The first year I had a financial advisor, but not anymore.”
She said that immediately after hearing she had won, she took her son out to dinner and bought herself a designer bag.
The Mumsnet user wrote: “I took my son out for dinner. This was before I got the money.
“I think the first thing I bought after that was a Mulberry bag, which I’ve wanted for years. I now have over 50!
The only thing I would have changed was not to tell anyone
Lottery winner
“I think I checked my ticket a few days after I won. It was at work because I heard the numbers on the radio and they sounded the same as the ones on my license plate.
“I looked online and nearly fell off my chair. I had to calm myself down because I had a whole day of work ahead of me. I didn’t call the Lotto office until I got home from work.”
She then explained that two months after her win, she quit her job, moved to another country and still has “most” of her money left.
Everything you need to know about lottery and EuroMillions
The woman confirmed: “I still have most of it left. I was a bit reckless when I initially won, I spent a lot of money on designer items, household items etc. but I’m back to my baseline level of spending now.”
But while it has changed her life ‘for the better’, she opened up about why she regrets telling others, especially her family.
She continued: “It has changed my life for the better. I always had financial worries as a single parent, we rented, I didn’t have a car because I couldn’t afford the running costs, no international holidays etc.
I wish my relatives weren’t so greedy and spoiled
Lottery winner
“The only thing I would have changed is not to tell anyone.
“I was the one who spilled the beans. I totally understand why people choose to go public, it’s so hard to hold back.
“I told my son, who was thrilled and to this day he has never told anyone. He just minds his own business.
Biggest UK Lottery Winners
By Ethan Singh
- Anonymous winner – € 195,707,000
On July 19, 2022, a British ticket holder won a record £195 million EuroMillions jackpot – the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
The owner, who remains anonymous to this day, made his fortune with just one lucky ticket.
- Joe and Jess Thwaite – € 184,262,899.10
The previous British EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite.
The couple won the record jackpot of £184million in May 2022 and had hoped for a joint Hawaiian holiday and a new horse stable for their children’s ponies.
Joe purchased his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and received an email the next morning with good news.
When he heard about the huge win, he couldn’t believe it and initially kept it to himself, not wanting to disturb his wife, who was sleeping.
Joe, a communications salesperson, and Jess, who runs a hair salon with her sister, have been married for eleven years and have two children.
- Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000
Colin and Christine Weir won a colossal prize money in 2011 and were the second biggest winners in Europe until someone in Italy won a £193 million jackpot in 2019.
They were spending the money at a staggering rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck.
But when Colin died in December 2019, his share of the prize money had shrunk by around £40 million.
He spent millions on a life of luxury, splurging on sports cars, real estate and the football club he supported.
Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death, after 38 years of marriage.
He left money for their children Carly and Jamie.
- Adrian and Gillian Brayford – € 148,600,000
Adrian and Gillian won €190 million in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which equated to over £148 million.
But the following year, Adrian split from Gillian due to the stress of the win.
The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiard room, but it was sold in 2021.
After his divorce in 2013, he failed to woo former sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz, but he did fall for stable girl Sam Burbidge.
She left him in 2017, taking with her 30 prize horses that Adrian had purchased.
Things may have turned out well for Adrian after all, as last year the former postman was spotted laughing with ambulance worker Tracey Biles.
- Frances and Patrick Connolly – £114,969,775
Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charities after she and her husband won the top prize.
On New Year’s Day 2019, they raised almost £115 million.
She estimates she has already given away £60 million to charity, as well as to friends and family.
- Richard and Debbie Nuttall – €61,000,000
The couple, from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61million on January 30, 2024.
They are both 54 years old and enjoyed a holiday in Fuerteventura to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.
But then they discovered the big EuroMillions win.
Richard said they initially thought they had won £2.60 but then received another email telling them to check their account.
Other stunning anonymous winners:
Another anonymous winner won a prize of £123,458,008 during the June Superdraw rollover.
After nine rollovers, one ticket holder won the jackpot of £122,550,350 last April.
The successful participant chose to remain anonymous.
Another anonymous winner found his fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, winning £121,328,187.
“I eventually told my sister, who then told her husband, who then told our extended family.
“I don’t regret my victory for a second, I just wish my family members weren’t so greedy and arrogant.
“I would have liked to help them find a home, but it was ridiculous how some people thought I owed them an income.
I volunteer three to four days a week, I would probably be bored to death if I didn’t
Lottery winner
“My sister was enthusiastic and supportive, as were a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.
“Some family members, like my father, brother and even my ex, were horrible.
“I mainly gave money to charities and a few younger cousins, just to help them buy a car or buy a house, but that was it.”
Although the lucky woman was able to quit her full-time job, she confirmed: “I volunteer three to four days a week, I would probably be bored to death if I didn’t.”
MUMSNET USERS ASK MORE
Mumsnet users were shocked by the woman’s confession and many wanted to know more.
Someone asked, “Was it everything you expected?”
To this the woman replied, “Yes, and more!”
Another asked: “How has it affected your relationship, if you have one?”
I have lost contact with some friends, but mostly with family members
Lottery winner
The woman wrote in response: “I haven’t been affected by it myself, but it has affected many of my other relationships with friends and family.”
While a third wondered: “Now that the excitement is over, do you think you are happier than you were before your win?”
To this she wrote back, claiming, “I’m just as happy as ever. We never struggled, but we never felt comfortable, we just made it.”
At the same time, someone else asked, “Did you lose any friends over it?”
The woman then admitted: “I have lost contact with some friends, but mainly with family members.”
