£84.4M Euro Millions lottery jackpot claimed anonymously

May 18, 2010, 7:36 am (25 comments)

Euro Millions

If you see someone looking incredibly smug in the next few days, this could be the reason.

The winner of last week's £84.4 million (US$122.7 million) Euro Millions jackpot came forward on Sunday — but has decided to remain anonymous.

It is not even known whether they are a man, woman or a syndicate.

By choosing to keep their identity secret, the record-breaking winner is likely to avoid the pleas that inevitably flood in to those who declare their wins.

But with such an enormous sum of money suddenly coming into their lives, they might have trouble keeping the windfall quiet for long.

Their jackpot smashes the previous record for a UK winner set by Nigel Page, 43, and his girlfriend Justine Laycock, 41, from Cirencester, who won £56 million in the Euro Millions draw in February.

Friday's win will have made a single ticket holder the 789th richest person in Britain, according to the Sunday Times Rich List — on a par with pop star Robbie Williams and Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts.

It also makes them richer than former James Bond star Sir Sean Connery, who has £80m.

A spokesman for National Lottery operator Camelot said last night, "The lucky ticket holder(s) of this prize have taken the decision to remain anonymous and therefore no further details about this prize, or the location of where the winning ticket was purchased, will be revealed."

Mark Dampier, of financial advisors Hargreaves Lansdown, also had some advice on keeping their identity secret.

Dampier said, "The only way to keep it completely quiet would be not to give up your job, not to tell any relatives at all, and not to change your lifestyle. Parking a Ferrari outside your council house would be a giveaway."

He said they should also bank at a branch far away from their home, to avoid a cashier spilling the beans.

The five winning numbers in Friday's draw were 1, 17, 31, 43, and 47 with Lucky Star numbers 2 and 3.

Earlier this year, builder and self-confessed "white van man" Mr. Page, 43, and his estate agent partner Miss Laycock, 41, celebrated their winnings in front of TV cameras.

She said yesterday, "We are thrilled to pieces.

"The last couple of months have been amazing for us. We want to wish the new titleholders the best of luck."

The couple, who married over Easter, swiftly moved into a five-bedroom Cotswolds mansion, which included a 25-seat cinema, indoor pool, sauna and steam room, just down the road from model Liz Hurley. They shared a total jackpot of £112 million with a ticket bought in Spain.

Euro Millions is played in the UK, France, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, but British winners have been particularly fortunate — six have won more than £237 million between them since the competition began.

Bolton gardener Brian Caswell collected £24.9 million in June 2009, while in November, Les Scadding and his wife Sam from South Wales and the Lucky Seven syndicate from Liverpool each banked £45.5 million.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Daily Mirror

Comments

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Sure would be nice to remain completely anonymous but I think it would cause suspicion about the integrity of the process when you have as many money-hungry crooks in government as we do here.

If you don't have to announce who won, it could be anybody, couldn't it? It could be the Governor's brother-in-law for all we would know. I can see both sides of the argument for and against anonymity.

sully16's avatarsully16

I Agree!  I SEE BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN,AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE PERSON CLAIMING THE PRIZE. ( Free choice) In Michigan the store that sold the winner is always listed , just go ask the owner...Is it true someone here won? simple.

Person

The UK's got it right...they allow anonymity and lottery winnings are tax free. Congrats to the winner(s)!

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on May 18, 2010

I Agree!  I SEE BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN,AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE PERSON CLAIMING THE PRIZE. ( Free choice) In Michigan the store that sold the winner is always listed , just go ask the owner...Is it true someone here won? simple.

Knowing the store where the winner was sold is not fool proof.  If one knew the numbers being picked in advance, they could buy their ticket at any store.

A few years ago an Indiana lottery security person was caught after telling his buddies the store that had the roll of scratch-offs with the grand prize so they could go there and buy the whole roll.  If they hadn't argued about how to split up their loot, they might had never been caught.

Just stick with the multi-state games, states probably watch each other to make sure no one is cheating.

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Congrats, to the winner! I can understand why they claimed anonymously. This way they can avoid the press and avoid people looking for a handout.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Congratulations BIG non-taxed jackpot winner!

lottocalgal's avatarlottocalgal

Anonymity.  As it should be.  Congrats!

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on May 18, 2010

Knowing the store where the winner was sold is not fool proof.  If one knew the numbers being picked in advance, they could buy their ticket at any store.

A few years ago an Indiana lottery security person was caught after telling his buddies the store that had the roll of scratch-offs with the grand prize so they could go there and buy the whole roll.  If they hadn't argued about how to split up their loot, they might had never been caught.

Just stick with the multi-state games, states probably watch each other to make sure no one is cheating.

Are there states where they pick numbers in advance? I hope not , I've already lost so much faith in my state. I can see your point about the scratchers. I hope you win big RJOH!Hyper

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on May 18, 2010

Are there states where they pick numbers in advance? I hope not , I've already lost so much faith in my state. I can see your point about the scratchers. I hope you win big RJOH!Hyper

There are no states  that pick their official numbers in advance but if someone wanted to cheat, they would have to buy their tickets and know the numbers likely to be drawn before the drawing.  I assume all the games I play are honest or I wouldn't play them.

caipiao

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on May 18, 2010

Knowing the store where the winner was sold is not fool proof.  If one knew the numbers being picked in advance, they could buy their ticket at any store.

A few years ago an Indiana lottery security person was caught after telling his buddies the store that had the roll of scratch-offs with the grand prize so they could go there and buy the whole roll.  If they hadn't argued about how to split up their loot, they might had never been caught.

Just stick with the multi-state games, states probably watch each other to make sure no one is cheating.

i read the same indiana story, but how could the lottery security person know where the jackpot roll of scratchers is sent?  I thought they send them out randomly. Can you imagine if people who work for lottery knowing the store and roll where a winning ticket is sent?  They may not be allowed to buy it themselves, but then can tell anyone to buy them.  Probably succeeded many times. 

 

I thought they send out randomly, or does lotto director say: Let's send the 5-million-dollar ticket to the poor 'hood. It will make a good news story,  instead of wasting it on a store in a rich zip code, where rich folks may win.

THRUST's avatarTHRUST

Claiming anonymously is good for the winner but bad for the lottery itself...they like to have names & faces attached to big prizes...makes good stories and encourages more people to play. Sweet win though! Thumbs Up

I personally have no problem publicly. Patriot

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by caipiao on May 18, 2010

i read the same indiana story, but how could the lottery security person know where the jackpot roll of scratchers is sent?  I thought they send them out randomly. Can you imagine if people who work for lottery knowing the store and roll where a winning ticket is sent?  They may not be allowed to buy it themselves, but then can tell anyone to buy them.  Probably succeeded many times. 

 

I thought they send out randomly, or does lotto director say: Let's send the 5-million-dollar ticket to the poor 'hood. It will make a good news story,  instead of wasting it on a store in a rich zip code, where rich folks may win.

As I remembered the story, ticket rolls are sent out randomly but for security are recorded where they're delivered and the information about prizes on the rolls is on a separate and secure list which security doesn't normally have access to but while investigating another game the security person saw the list for that game with the jackpot and roll number.  He checked to see where the roll was delivered and told his buddies.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

I can't be anonymous if I win the Powerball, but I will still take it!

Dollar419's avatarDollar419

Only wish it was ME!!! WTG!!Hurray!

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