I won £14 million on the lottery but lost my family…they’re so entitled, it’s not my responsibility to pay your mortgage
A WOMAN has revealed that she won the lottery, but lost her family in the process.
The single mother explained that she won just under £14 million thanks to a lucky dip lottery ticket, which is just £2.
But although she was over the moon with her win, she was unfortunately met with ‘greedy’ and ‘entitled’ family members that expected her to ‘owe them a living’.
The anonymous woman opened up about her lottery win on Mumsnet, and claimed that she had been playing the lottery for “over a decade” and described herself as a “fairly regular player”, before her win.
Writing on social media, the woman titled her post: “I won the lottery (a few years ago).”
Posting under the username @NCuserer, the mother highlighted: “I remained anonymous, which was fairly pointless as I did tell some family and friends and it spread from there.
“I won just under £14 million.”
The mum claimed that she had a full-time job prior to her win, but now makes more cash in interest than she did in nine months of work.
The woman shared: “I had a fairly safe and reliable healthcare job with decent benefits and a pension.
“I earned around £1,800 a month but my expenditures were high, around £1,100 to £1,200, this was due to the area.
“I make more in interest per month than I did in nine months of work.
“I used to have a financial advisor for the first year but not anymore.”
She revealed that straight after finding out about her win, she took her son out for a meal and bought herself a designer bag.
The Mumsnet user wrote: “I took my son out for a lovely dinner. This was before I got the money though.
“I think the first thing I bought afterwards was a Mulberry bag which I had wanted for years. I have over 50 now!
The only thing I would have changed was not telling anyone
Lottery winner
“I think I checked my ticket a few days after winning, it was during work because I heard the numbers on the radio and they sounded like the ones on my lD.
“I then checked online and nearly fell out of my chair. I had to compose myself as I still had a full day of work left. Didn’t even call the Lotto office until I got home after work.”
She then explained that she quit work two months after winning, moved country, and still has “most” of her money left.
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The woman confirmed: “I have the majority of it still left. I was a bit reckless when I initially won, spending on a lot of designer things, household items etc but I’m back to my baseline of spending.”
But although it has changed her life “for the better”, she opened up on why she regrets telling people, especially her family.
She continued: “It’s changed my life for the better. I always had financial concerns as a single parent, we rented, I had no car as I couldn’t afford running costs, no international holidays etc.
I wish my family members weren’t so greedy and entitled
Lottery winner
“The only thing I would have changed was not telling anyone.
“It was me who blabbed. I completely understand why people choose to go public, it’s so hard to contain yourself.
“I told my son who was excellent and to this day has never told anyone, he just minds his business.
UK's biggest lottery winners
By Ethan Singh
- Anonymous winner – £195,707,000
A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket.
- Joe and Jess Thwaite – £184,262,899.10
Britain’s previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite.
The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children’s ponies.
Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news.
As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping.
Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children.
- Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000
Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019.
They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck.
But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019 his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m.
He spent the millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported.
Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years.
He left money for their children Carly and Jamie.
- Adrian and Gillian Brayford – £148,600,000
Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million.
But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win.
The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021.
After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge.
She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought.
It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year.
- Frances and Patrick Connolly – £114,969,775
Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot.
They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019.
She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family.
- Richard and Debbie Nuttall – £61,000,000
The couple from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61 million on January 30 2024.
Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.
But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win.
Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account.
Other eye-watering anonymous winners:
- 2019 – £123million
Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover.
- 2021 – £122million
Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April.
The successful participant chose to remain anonymous.
- 2018 – £121million
Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187.
“I ended up telling my sister, who then went and told her husband who then went and told our extended family.
“I do not for one second regret winning, I just wish my family members weren’t so greedy and entitled.
“I would have happily helped many of them with getting them on the property ladder but the way some of them thought I owed them a living was crazy.
I do three to four days of volunteering, I’d probably die of boredom if I didn’t
Lottery winner
“My sister was thrilled and supportive, as were some aunts, uncles and cousins.
“Some family members such as my dad, brother and even ex were horrible.
“I gave money to charity mostly and a few younger cousins, just to help them buy cars or get on the property ladder but that’s it.”
Although the lucky woman was able to quit her full-time job, she confirmed: “I do three to four days of volunteering, I’d probably die of boredom if I didn’t.”
MUMSNET USERS ASK MORE
Mumsnet users were left open-mouthed at the woman’s confession, and many were keen to know more.
One person asked: “Was it everything you imagined it would be?”
To this, the woman replied: “Yes, and more!”
Another questioned: “How did it affect your relationship, if you’re in one?”
I’ve lost contact with some friends but mostly family members
Lottery winner
In response, the woman wrote back: “I was not in one but it has affected many of my other relationships with friends and family members.”
Whilst a third wondered: “Now that the excitement has worn off, do you think you’re happier now than you were before your win?”
To this, she wrote back and claimed: “I’m as happy as I used to be. We never struggled, but we were never comfortable, just getting by.”
At the same time, someone else asked: “Did you lose any friends over it?”
The woman then admitted: “I’ve lost contact with some friends but mostly family members.”