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Original poster

Winning the Euromillions

303 replies

Ellabella989 · 04/10/2019 16:34

If you won the £169 million jackpot tonight, would you go public or keep it private amongst your immediate family?
I’d like to think I wouldn’t go public but it’s such a huge amount of money that someone is bound to find out and blab.

OP posts:
1onelyranger · 04/10/2019 21:08

I'm afraid that I have spent too many sleepless hours thinking about this so I'm pretty clear how I'd spend the first 12 months at least.

I love the idea of not telling anyone but DP for the first month (I'm a bit of a thinker/planner). I'd share 1 million amongst 8 people who stood by me during a tough time. We've all moved in but these people, ex colleagues and ex neighbours would all get an anonymous £125000 expression of gratitude. Close friends, our siblings and mothers would each get £500 000 each. Nieces and nephews would get something in trust for adulthood.

For me I'd be buying a couple of houses and cars. Definitely someone in to clean, garden and I'd love regular pamper treatments. Ooh, and a regular cook and PT.

Most of my time would be spent on pet projects - setting up self-sustaining cooperatives and not-for-profits with a focus on education, training and community. My hobby would be doing up neglected, dilapidated properties and selling them to locals who would otherwise never dream of affording anything in their own areas.

FinallyHere · 04/10/2019 21:12

We have had lots of hypothetical arguments about this.

Goodness, I recognise this. It's a popular topic for discussion but we do rather disagree about everything we would do with millions. Day to day we have never disagreed about money, so we tend to break off the argument being glad it's not likely to happen.

I feel myself tempted to just not tell him while he claims he would go 50:50. We shall see ...

Userzzzzz · 04/10/2019 21:18

Also it seems to be the case that some of the most sensible people never win big and people that can’t handle the responsibility of that much money do win. I always find it really sad to read the stories where lives have been ruined by lottery wins.

TurquoiseDress · 04/10/2019 21:19

Oh no I've just realised I didn't buy a ticket for tonight!

I was going to buy just the one ticket and do it online

So far in the last year I've won three times on Euromillions...about £2.50 each time Grin

Out of interest, do online tickets ever win? Always seems to be someone who bought it down at their local newsagent or supermarket

Sorry to go off on a tangent!

1onelyranger · 04/10/2019 21:21

My previous post is completely rhetorical. I've never entered a lottery in my life.

Horehound · 04/10/2019 21:22

What possible good could come from going public? No way in a million years would I go public..sheer stupidly imo

hazandduck · 04/10/2019 21:25

I’ve just told DH if we won the lottery I’d definitely buy a bottle of perfume in the airport when we fly home from holiday on Sunday! We both agree we wouldn’t tell anyone the actual amount we won and would never go public.

millimollimandi · 04/10/2019 21:30

The real problem I'd have is keeping it from my two kids so they continue to go to work and not just bum around for the rest of their lives....

SilverySurfer · 04/10/2019 21:34

No way would I go public and as for not having financial adviser if you don't, I don't think you would have much problem hiring one with £169 million.

TurquoiseDress · 04/10/2019 22:02

To answer the actual question-

if I ever did win a huge amount, I would most definitely not go public!

what would be the point of doing that?

MonsteraCheeseplant · 04/10/2019 22:21

Well, i'd take DH and I on a round the world trip for a year in fancy pants hotels. Then we'd return, do up the house a bit and volunteer at Women's Aid.

DamonSalvatoresDinner · 04/10/2019 22:38

I'd want to hide it. But we would never be able to.

DH's family would suddenly remember he's their favourite brother, cousin or nephew and the begging demands would be endless.

Queenunikitty · 04/10/2019 22:48

I wouldn’t tell anyone, we’d just pack up and disappear, never to be seen again. Bye.

Awaywiththefairies27 · 04/10/2019 22:54

I'd stay private. Would tell DH and move us into a bigger home pronto. Could easily hide it from our kids and our friends. Don't have any family outside our little unit. Our friends are already quite wealthy so they wouldn't bat an eyelid at a new car.

I'd raid Irregular Choice for my dream shoe collection but what I really want is to travel so my home would only ever be a base. A modest 6 bed with room for my art studio and a tyre swing in the garden. Grin

Me and DH have discussed it at length. We would become angel investors and make random anon donations to different charities worldwide with all the interest and returns.

The mind baffles as to why people go public ever. Its my idea of hell.

Basketofkittens · 04/10/2019 22:57

I’ve just checked my results! The jackpot hasn’t been won yet but....Grin I’m not going public.

BrendasUmbrella · 04/10/2019 23:16

Oh no I've just realised I didn't buy a ticket for tonight!

No worries, it still hasn't been won Grin

It really goes to show how hard it is to win. It's been literally months...

FavouriteSong · 04/10/2019 23:16

@Basketofkittens Damn! So none of us won! Roll on Tuesday's draw.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 04/10/2019 23:17

I would keep it quiet and then a couple of months down the line tell people I have had a smaller win.

I have already thought about the charitable funds I would like to set up including funding research into antibiotic resistance.

I would help out family and friends. I would also love to have a nature reserve.

Basketofkittens · 04/10/2019 23:18

I have won £1,511.20...so close but so far! That’ll pay for our next holiday though wooooo! Grin

Outsomnia · 04/10/2019 23:18

Choose your Charities carefully is what I would say.

Are they paying thousands to a CEO. And support staff, Get a feel for ratio of staff/CEO costs v the recipients of your largesse.

I am sure you all know what to do here, but just mentioned it anyway.

Outsomnia · 04/10/2019 23:21

Basket, well done! Best wishes. Love to hear of a winner.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 04/10/2019 23:23

Basket

How wonderful. I hope you get a fab holiday with it.

Loveislandaddict · 04/10/2019 23:27

Don’t mind donating to a charity who CEO is getting the going rate for position. You can’t expect the boss of Oxfam or The Red Cross to be getting minimum wage.

I’d like to support the homeless.

OhMsBeliever · 04/10/2019 23:35

I'd stay private. I haven't got any close family, and only a few close friends.

Also I don't like change so would move house very slowly. And I wouldn't want a really big house because I don't like cleaning and nor do I like people in my house so a cleaner would be out of the question.

I will give loads to charity - probably small local charities, and also the schools my kids go to.

Despite my 15 yo's protestations I won't be handing him wads of cash! Grin Poor child!

We would have a ton of holidays, so many places in the world I want to see!

LittleAndOften · 04/10/2019 23:35

Well done basket!

When DH and I win (positive thinking) we have decided we will stay anonymous and give immediate close family a wodge of money each, then give friends and other family things they need. For example I know my auntie and uncle have wanted to sell their house and move to the west country for years, but their house is a mess and not fit for sale. I'd love to make it happen for them. Things like that.

It's too much money really, so it would make sense to donate a chunk, but I'd take my time to find worthy causes, not necessarily give to big name charities. It doesn't all need to be used straight away, there's no rush!