I won the lottery (a few years ago) AMA

[NCuserer]

NC for this as I remained anonymous, which was fairly pointless as I did tell some family and friends and it spread from there.

Going back to your will, you say you’ve left money to charity. I hope you’ve left it as defines cash sums not a percentage of the residue? They’re absolute nightmares to deal with if you do that, because they’re legally obliged to squeeze every last penny out of the estate and not compromise on things like whether your favourite niece gets your purple Mulberry bag or it goes on EBay.

Do you ever wish you'd won the mega euro millions jackpot instead? Like 100m?

X-post

This is perhaps going to sound mean or bitter, but while I'm of course envious I'm so happy for anyone who receives any kind of windfall! But my question is.. Are your immediate family not speaking to you because you didn't share as they expected you may? I understand not giving your dad money but... so much of my dream plans of winning a significant sum of money revolve around buying those close to me a decent start in life, mainly a house really, and with £14 million I imagine it would be so easy to buy most people in an immediate circle a modest house, car etc. Did you not do that? I'm not asking for the why if you didn't, I'm just surprised such good fortune resulted in multiple fallouts I guess.

I'm like you, I grew up on a council estate, although we weren't that badly off, and I rent and dream of owning my own home, so maybe my perspective is skewed but I would go a long way ensuring stability for people important to me. Even though I have a pretty dysfunctional family!

You won £14 million initially, is your wealth greater than this value now?

@Kentuki

Can you describe your typical day? And your typical year in terms of holidays etc? What sort of house do you have?

I spend 3 - 4 days volunteering (charity shops/hospital/care homes) usually 9 - 5, or longer. Weekends I usually do gardening, go on day trips, food shopping, cooking with son or taking him to sports/activities, visit friends. Normal things, I guess.

We go on 3 - 4 international holidays a year and lots of UK trips

I gave a medium 5 figure to a large charity once and i would never do that again. They hounded me for months for more high donations.

Surely this is why anonymous benefactors exist? To avoid that sort of thing. Or set up a charitable trust or something.

What car do you drive?
Do you have Premium Bonds?

What countries are your holiday homes in?

Congratulations by the way. You seem very grounded and I love that you do so much charity work. You are clearly a nice human being!!

Have you had some cracking holidays?
Did anything you were excited to buy turn into a disappointment?

I'd never go on day trips at the weekend as that's when everyone else (apart from retired people) has to do it! So how come you do that at the weekend?

@Imtootired

How old were you when you won? And do you move in different social circles now? Do you get along with other rich people or feel different from them? Also do you date? If so do you worry they’re after your money?

I would rather not state my age.

I still have the same friends pre win but also have new friends, mostly through my sons school and where I live and yes some of them are posh but I haven't intentionally seeked them out.

I do date but I don't tell them I won the lottery. Majority of the men I've dated are also comfortable

I’ve loved reading your thread OP.

What do you say when asked what you do for a living?

Do you think you look physically different now? I’ve always been fascinated by how a lot of people with money seem to have a sort of veil of wealth or ‘sheen’ to them. The same thing happens when people become famous and their image slowly becomes upgraded. Never been able to put a finger on what it is though - good skin/ expensive clothes/ good haircut etc.

Did they offer you the chance to take any money as credit immediately? Or was 2 months down the line the first instance you saw any money?

My three rules for if I win a big lottery jackpot are;

1. Don't go for the publicity option, why do I want the Daily Mail crawling over my every move for years on end in return for a comically sized cheque and a photo shoot spraying champagne around, the only people who benefit from public winners are the people running the lottery.

2/3. Tell no-one how much, or when I won. You can only truly hide a lottery win, if you don't spend it, people will know something is up when you quit work etc. but it doesn't mean you have to tell people when you won, so consequently how much you won. I'd keep it secret for a while, and never actually tell anybody who asks how much I won. They don't know what's in my bank now, why should that change?

Actually, I'm assuming that all your friends and relatives still work and that's why you choose to do things with them at the weekend, because they don't have the same leisure time.

I've always wondered that, actually, about lottery winners. It's not like your true friends and relatives would also be able to suddenly give up work (unless you win a LOT and give a lot to them). So does it get lonely, not being able to socialise with people you knew before during the week? Do you find yourself holding back from telling them your news when you DO meet up for a catch up? Because you've had the means and the time to go here, there and everywhere, and they haven't?

@ElizabethTudor

Fascinating thread Op. Congratulations - though I’m sorry to hear about your grabby relatives. It does give you hope! I just bought a Thunderball ticket before reading this thread 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Where was your first holiday post win?
Where did you go on holiday pre win (as a comparison)?

We went to Paris via Eurostar! Its the only place I ever went internationally pre win so was familiar with it.

What advice, other than not telling people, would you give to someone who had just won the jackpot?

I won a small amount over a decade ago. My family were pleased for me but knew it was almost all gone to pay off debts with very little left over.

I was disappointed that a few of my friends felt entitled to some of the money. I don't think inheritances are viewed the same way. I didn't like others thinking they'd get a say in how I spent it. My priority right from the start was my debts.

I need to know whether they give you some sort of advance if it takes two months... Y'know so I can plan my spending for when I win! 😂

Many congratulations OP.

@HitsAndMrs

What job did you do before?

I put the lottery on occasionally as working in the NHS isn't as fun as I thought 😅
14 million would give me anxiety though.

Do you struggle to trust people now - new friendships etc?

I worked in healthcare.

No, but I dont tell them I'm a lottery winner

Less than 65k, the interest on my account is very low

I'm just gobsmacked you don't have an IFA... who not? To receive that paltry interest means you aren't making your money grow. I know you don't need it, but surely if you wanted to become philanthropic and set up something, the more the better.

that should say 'why not' (not who not)

I was thinking that, @Roussette. £65K on a winning of £14m is very very low. OP, what are you thinking, leaving it in low interest accounts?