Brits Jess and Joe Thwaite told yesterday how their lives changed after they scooped £184million with a lucky dip ticket.
The couple went public on Wednesday after becoming Britain's biggest EuroMillions winners.
Joe, 49, and Jess, 44, told how they didn't want to hide the win from loved ones so decided to reveal themselves.
Jess said: “I don’t want to lie to family and friends, I want to enjoy it with them.
“Maybe, naively, I thought we could tell a few people and it would be fine. But the list gets longer and soon you realise it would be a burden asking them to keep it quiet. Telling people makes it easier.”
In the UK, winners have the right to remain anonymous - with six of the 10 Euromillions winners staying anonymous. This includes the second-biggest winner after the Thwaite's who won £170 million in 2019.
Before Jess and Joe announced their £184million jackpot, just six £100million-plus winners had gone public.
We've taken a look at who they are.
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Steve and Lenka Thomson, £105million, in 2019.
The couple scooped an incredible £104million and eventually moved to a country estate where he plans to do all the DIY himself.
Steve and Lenka stayed in their £150,000 terraced home for more than a year, as they were adamant things wouldn't change overnight.
As a result, they refused to buy anything 'too flash', instead opting for a second-hand Volkswagen camper van Mr Thomson and a Volvo XC90 for his wife.
Mr Thomson also carried on working to fulfil his standing orders after his win.
Their £4.5million estate is set on 14.5 acres and has a swimming pool, tennis court and party barn.
Colin and Chris Weir, £161million
Colin Weir and his wife, Christine won an whopping £161million in 2011.
They donated huge amounts to important causes after becoming Scotland's biggest ever lottery winners.
They also shared their fortune with friends and family - before splitting after 38 years of marriage in April 2019.
Colin also invested in his favourite football club, Partick Thistle, as well as buying a slew of cars and properties.
Sadly he died from sepsis in December 2019 at which time his fortune had dropped by £40 million.
Before his death, he had shrewdly bought a 55 per cent stake in Partick Thistle so he could donate the club to the fans and ensure it was kept in the hands of the local community.
Adrian and Gillian Bayford, £148million
Adrian and Gillian Bayford hit the jackpot after winning an incredible £148million on the lottery in 2012.
But it didn't end well for their relationship - after they split 18 months later, with the couple partly blaming the stress of the win.
Ever since they first the headlines, they've both attracted attention for their following relationships.
Adrian was dumped by ex-horse groom Samantha Burbidge, who is 16 years his junior, in 2017, and waitress Lisa Kemp dumped him over saucy messages to his ex.
In 2020, Gillian was convicted of threatening her ex-lover Gavin Innes during their relationship, which ended in 2017.
But a trial revealed that the mother-of-two had been subjected to a horrific campaign of online abuse and false allegations to social work, her golf club and a children’s charity.
She went on to marry Brian Deans in 2018, who was previously convicted after stealing more than £13,500 from Tesco in a con involving putting through fake customer refunds.
"I’ve known from the very beginning and it doesn’t bother me," Gillian said after their wedding.
"Everyone has a past but you can’t live in the past. You’ve got to move on."
Frances and Patrick Connolly
The Northern Irish couple won £115 million on a Lucky Dip couple - similar to the Thwaites.
Since then, they have donated millions to charity, with Frances recently joking that she was "addicted" to helping others.
So far they've given away half of their winnings and setting up charities in Hartlepool and Northern Ireland.
Neil Trotter, £107million, in 2014
Neil Trotter became the UK's fourth-biggest lottery winner in March 2014 - just hours after joking he'd win the jackpot.
Later that evening he scooped £107,932,603.20.
Not long after, he swapped his three-bed semi for a £5 million medieval mansion in Kent and pursued his passion for cars.
Speaking to the BBC : “It's taken me probably five years to get my life to where I want it.
"It's been a bit of a struggle, adjusting to having so much money but this is the dream, it was my dream to buy a big house with some land and a lake.
"I've always worked all my life so going from having to work to not having to work anymore was quite a strange thing to adjust to and I soon found out sitting at home watching telly all day was going to be quite boring."
Dave and Angela Dawes, £101million, in 2011
This incredible fortune was won by factory supervisor Dave Dawes and his wife Angela, a taxi driver.
The couple, who were from Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, gave away more than £30million to their family and closest friends as well as setting up their own charity.
But they were forced to beef up security at their £4million mansion after thieves nicked around £20,000 cash from their Range Rover as well as some of their flashy jewellery.
Winners are under no pressure to win - and they don't receive more benefits if they do so.
A Camelot representative said: “The decision to share their news or remain anonymous is completely up to the winner and depends on a number of factors including who they’ve told and what they plan to do with their win.
"It’s fantastic when winners share their news but everyone is different. Ultimately it is up to the individual and we’ll support them whatever their decision."
