Lottery winners from Scotland to go public
A couple from Falkirk in central Scotland, who became Europe’s biggest-ever lottery winners, have decided to not to stay anonymous.
The couple have decided to go public with their £161m win, which has propelled them to the 430th place in this year’s Sunday Times Rich List.
Now boasting more money than Sir Tom Jones or David Bowie, the couple banked the entire EuroMillions jackpot after several rollovers on Tuesday night – a total of £161,653,000.
National Lottery operator Camelot said they would be unveiled this afternoon at a hotel in Falkirk.
The couple matched all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars. The massive jackpot was capped at 185m euros after a series of rollovers made it the largest ever in the UK and Europe.
The winning numbers were 17, 19, 38, 42 and 45, and the Lucky Stars were 9 and 10.
They claimed the prize yesterday, and have usurped former postal worker Angela Kelly, from East Kilbride, who became Scotland’s biggest winner in August 2007 when she scooped £35,425,411.80 in the EuroMillions jackpot.
At the time the postal worker was also Britain’s biggest Lottery jackpot winner but her win has since been far surpassed.
Before the Falkirk couple struck lucky, the record was £113m, scooped in October 2010. The winner remained anonymous.
Speaking last October, Mr Kelly said: “A EuroMillions win not only means you can change your own life but also the lives of the people closest to you, and it is that which particularly brings me a great deal of joy.”
The couple now find themselves not far below David and Victoria Beckham on the Sunday Times Rich List. The Beckhams have an official fortune of £165m.
They will be just above the likes of bookmaker Victor Chandler, Airmiles and Nectar card founder Sir Keith Mills, and the Marquess of Bath, all of whom have £161m.
Former Beatle Ringo Starr is on £150m and Sir Tom Jones is on £140m, according to the list.
Falkirk councillor Cecil Meiklejohn said: “I think it’s very exciting if someone from Falkirk should win such a massive amount of money. I’d like to hope some of that could be invested locally and it could help boost the local economy.
“I think it will create a bit of excitement and give a boost to the area.”
