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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you won the lottery, would you go public?

305 replies

Frosty6611 · 08/08/2018 11:15

If you won the jackpot on the lottery would you go public? I think i’d just tell my close friends and family and start a new life somewhere.

OP posts:
Pebblesandfriends · 08/08/2018 12:02

No chance. Recipe for disaster.

FinallyHere · 08/08/2018 12:02

@Frosty6611

The Savoyy v Burgh Islandd

After agonising for ages, I think I am going for a permanent , well long term , suite st The Savoy , so central near Theatreland and the Opera House and the initial relax and think on Burgh Island

I expect that tastes would change as you went through life at this level. It would be tempting to just abandon things you no longer want (given they don't need to be sold in order to finance the next thing ) so renting/leasing would be the way to go.

Over invested in planning at the expense of what I should be doing now

CaveMaman · 08/08/2018 12:02

Not explicitly but I think it would be hard to hide a big win.

I'd buy a house. I'd put money into trust for ds. Pay off my sister's mortgage, get extensive renovations done on my mum's house, buy one for my other sister and buy one for my bil and his family. I'd want to give some money to mil and some for my sil. Nothing for fil because he's a prick. I'd set up trusts for all my niece's and nephews so they wouldn't have to struggle.

I'd give up work and travel the world. My dh would want to start a business. I'd be a lady of leisure!

RomanyRoots · 08/08/2018 12:04

I don't see what financial advice you'd need.
Spend it how you want is all they could say.
You don't need good investment advice if it's that much that you and your immediate family needn't work again.

Original poster
Frosty6611 · 08/08/2018 12:05

Before I played the lottery online I always used to worry about handing over my ticket to a shop assistant for them to check whether i’d won or not. Surely it would be so easy for them to say I hadn’t won (when I had) and they then keep the ticket for themselves

OP posts:
Bluelady · 08/08/2018 12:06

We'd tell the kids, they'd need to know where the money they were given had suddenly come from. Other than them, nobody would be told.

sussexman · 08/08/2018 12:07

Why is that people state clearly that you have to go public with EuroMillions but not the National Lottery when this is so easily checked. www.euro-millions.com/publicity . No I wouldn't, although the fact that I haven't bought a ticket in years helps with making that decision :)

serbska · 08/08/2018 12:08

I way!

Redcrayons · 08/08/2018 12:08

I think that some of the American state ones give you an income rather than a huge lump sum.

HSBC would be all over me if I paid a $1bn into my current account. Grin

HollowTalk · 08/08/2018 12:09

OK, people say they'd pay off their siblings' mortgages. That would cause such resentment! Some might have £10K left, others might have £200K left. Others who rent - would you give them the same, or bump them up so they can have an equally nice house? Immediately there's a fight and nobody (except the person getting the most) would be happy.

And what if someone says, "I don't want £500K for a house. I'd rather have the money and buy a house for £200K and keep the change." And then you're in a mansion and they're in a smaller house - wouldn't they forever be resentful still?

All I can see is problems!!

SmashingInAthleticWear · 08/08/2018 12:09

I don't see what financial advice you'd need.

Well, I'd want to know where was the safest place to keep it/invest it, for starters - given that you're only covered for £85,000 if your bank goes bust! Property? Gold? Shares?

speakout · 08/08/2018 12:09

I wouldn't tell many members of my family actually.

I wouldn't even disclose the amount to close family members.

HollowTalk · 08/08/2018 12:10

The US lottery is taxed, too.

You can either take a smaller amount (pre-tax) as a lump sum or have annual amounts (which would add up to the full sum.)

Pissedoffdotcom · 08/08/2018 12:11

They'd be told to put up or fuck off in my house 🙈 our aim would be to ensure everybody had a secure home for their family. That met their needs without being extravagent because they still then need to maintain it & cover running costs.

If somebody turned round to me & moaned that x got more they wouldn't get a penny. If all my family/friends see is ££ signs then they aren't worth the energy. Yeah i'm a bit of a bitch

Rudgie47 · 08/08/2018 12:12

I've been in some bad situations like everyone has and when that happened who was there to help friend wise? yes nobody stepped up.
So if I won the lottery apart from my Mum no friend or family member would get even a penny off me.I wouldnt go public,or tell anyone, it would be just for me, all mine.

speakout · 08/08/2018 12:12

Given that most people on this thread would not go public then why do so many winners do ?

There must be pressure from Camelot.

Or the offer of specialist accountants, bank advice, maybe even emotional and practical support to deal with big life changes.

Maelstrop · 08/08/2018 12:13

No way! I’d give all family members a mil each then buy the property of my dreams then go to fat camp til I was slim again.

MrGilbertHeadofSixth · 08/08/2018 12:13

I would only tell my DH and grownup children. Can you imagine having a cleaner, and a cook? I would never do housework again, BLISS

Winterbella · 08/08/2018 12:15

I would definitely not go public, wouldn't relish the attention at all.

FinallyHere · 08/08/2018 12:17

I imagine that the 'pressure' from Camelot is similar to whatever it is that journalists do, in order to seem like a new best friend, endless uncomplaining sympathy and then slowly float the idea that you deserve to have your side of the story made available to the public.

The whole 'friends' thing would I expect be one of the most difficult aspects of a serious win. The temptation to always insist on picking up the cheque for lunch and then at some point wonder why they never reciprocate.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 08/08/2018 12:17

Never. But as a pp has said, so many do... why?

BabySharkDooDooDooDoo · 08/08/2018 12:18

No i wouldnt go public as i wouldnt want my ex to find out anything about me nor would i want all the attention it brings

SmashingInAthleticWear · 08/08/2018 12:18

then go to fat camp til I was slim again.

Oh, it'd be lipo for my lazy fat arse Grin

lapenguin · 08/08/2018 12:18

God no
Obviously if we bought a hours etc I'd lie and say we got enough for a deposit through inheritance, then tell my side it was DPs inheritance but tell DPs family it was my family inheritance.
Stuff like that!
Then say DP got a raise, say I was on a higher increment/hours have gone up
Then over time they would think we were comfortable and not question the random little purchases here or there.
I know, very well thought out plan considering our chances are very low!

FinallyHere · 08/08/2018 12:18

As for a divorce settlement if you were finally [sic] secure enough to get rid....