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Original poster

Would you go public with a big lottery win?

156 replies

Limeseverywhere · 19/05/2022 13:11

The winners of the £184 million lotto win have gone public, a couple in their 40’s with small children. They say they went public as they want to help so many friends and family and it would have been difficult for them to keep it a secret.
Good luck to them, I say, I hope they have a great adventure on it but I don’t think I would ever want to go public, I would give lots away to family, friends and charities then slink off somewhere away from the hubbub of life.
Would you ever go public like them?

OP posts:

SunnyLobelia · 19/05/2022 19:33

I have spent an unreasonable part of the day imagining what I would do.

I would only tell my parents and my SIL. I would give them each 10 million. I would give 2 million to each of my nieces and nephews. So that is 42 million down.

The rest I have no idea.

I did buy some lottery tickets today. As did half the UK I think.

ithinkidbetterleaverightnow · 19/05/2022 19:44

No. I'm a soft touch, a bit naïve and an introvert. I couldn't cope with the begging letters, the envy, and I'd probably waste some of it on crowdfunding . I also hate drawing attention to myself.

Good luck to this couple. They're going to need it.

If I won that amount of money I'd make sure all immediate family are taken care of and I'd set up some kind of philanthropic trust. No-one needs that amount of money. Leave me with £20mill and give away the rest.

Southlandssue · 19/05/2022 19:59

I think it is naive to believe that the likes of The Daily Mail and Sun wouldn’t hunt to the end of the earth until they found you, take what control you can.

Longdistance · 19/05/2022 20:04

No, I wouldn’t, but it’d be really difficult to hide that kind of wealth when you’re an ordinary person.

farmerboy · 19/05/2022 20:16

No I wouldn't. But I'd love to know where she got her dress from as I think it's lovely. Please don't tell me it's ££££££s!

Libertybear80 · 19/05/2022 20:25

The look like a nice family. Such a shame because one way or another this is going to screw all that up!

stepuporshutup · 19/05/2022 20:35

No definitely not. When the lottery first started a family in our town won a lot cannot remember how much but around the million or 2 million mark. They had their windows smashed the kids were threatened. They moved into a hotel out of town before they purchased a house in the Country side. People can be so jealous of other people's good fortune

Makesmilingyourbesthobby · 19/05/2022 20:59

No only close close family and friends and that would be months after I won so I could get everything in order for myself before anyone else could interfere or influence my discussions. Anyone else over my life that I wanted to help I would do something like open another bank account without my name attached to it if possible and post a cheque in their letter box and a anonymous letter telling them it’s theirs to do with as they please.

JustLyra · 19/05/2022 21:58

Butteryflakycrust83 · 19/05/2022 16:22

If I recall, if you choose not to go public they do not offer you any support e.g financial advice, but tbh with 184M you could hire the very best financial advisor.

That’s not true. The support they offer doesn’t vary depending on publicity or not.

And one of the first things they suggest people do is talk to at least one previous winner (they put you in touch). That probably impacts the public decision a lot when they’ve spoken to people who’ve actually been there

dumdumduuuummmmm · 19/05/2022 22:00

pilates · 19/05/2022 13:33

No, because I would want my children to work hard and find their own way in the world and not think they don’t have to do anything because their parents are loaded.

You think you would be able to hide the fact that you were now wealthy from your children? Are they not very bright?

dumdumduuuummmmm · 19/05/2022 22:03

Riverlee · 19/05/2022 13:53

I would pretend that I’d won £1-3 million -enough to explain the new car, house etc,. I wouldn’t disclose the full amount.

I don't think you have a clue what £184 million means. Telling people you win a couple of million would be so obviously a lie. You would now be in the super rich league. Your life will not resemble that of someone who won 2 million

Polkadotties · 19/05/2022 22:07

They are frankly idiots for going public. There is a difference between people you know finding out and the whole country!

Trafficjamlog · 19/05/2022 23:21

Not in a bazillion years would I tell a soul

WildNights · 20/05/2022 00:55

dumdumduuuummmmm · 19/05/2022 22:03

Show quote history

It depends how flash you are with it. A new house and car wouldn’t necessarily alert people to you being mega wealthy.

MrsDThomas · 20/05/2022 06:39

Absolutely not! Im not one who’d drive around in a swanky car (live on a small holding so lots of mud), my house is 4 bed, detached with land, generations have lived here, my friends are here, i have mountains and peace. I don’t want to move.

i love my work and the people.

id get a new car, phone, kitchen and bathroom eventually. Id give lots away to small charities via a solicitor and fill envelopes with cash an post them through letter boxes of those who are struggling or people i like.

PipeScatter · 20/05/2022 06:48

And so it begins... article in the Daily Fail about the husband's "poor" ex-wife being evicted from her rented home...

drpet49 · 20/05/2022 06:57

They are extremely stupid for going public

insomnia101 · 20/05/2022 07:15

Absolutely not! No way.

doorfram · 20/05/2022 07:35

Agreed, although I guess you could just not spend it but what's the point of playing then.

FlyMeToTheMoonandMars · 20/05/2022 07:35

In wouldn't go public - no way!

Trafficjamlog · 20/05/2022 07:52

@doorfram am not sure that’s entirely true. I think it totally depends where you’re coming from. I know people who have that kind of extreme wealth and their lives apart from very big houses aren’t that different from my life. However, I appreciate I already have an extremely privileged life compared to many people. I genuinely don’t think that other than upgrading my house my day to day spending would draw attention. The house for me could be explained relatively easily and I already do the lovely holidays etc, I wouldn’t need to share that I was upgrading the rooms, flying business / first for cash etc. i think I could do it quietly. But as I say it totally depends on your starting point

doorfram · 20/05/2022 09:11

@Trafficjamlog I know some millionaires & their lives have some similarities but still fairly different. I don't know anyone who has 180m & lives a normal life though.

But as I say it totally depends on your starting point

Yes & I think 20m or less would be easy to hide so to speak but 180m is another level up & you only get one life. So instead of a 30k holiday, I would want the 200k yacht holiday. I would want the 20m house, I would employ a chef, etc

For me, I wouldn't see the point of having all that money if I couldn't enjoy it.

the80sweregreat · 20/05/2022 09:40

I wouldn't want a yacht or a boat really.
A nice house with a bit of land would be great.
I wonder if his ex will get anything ? Especially if she is renting a place etc.
I've a feeling that might be awkward.

Ttbhappy · 20/05/2022 09:58

They have won do much money they can if they want give it away to countless charities it doesn't matter about begging letters.

doorfram · 20/05/2022 09:59

they can also employ someone to intercept & deal with the begging letters 😆

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