By ELLEN COUGHLAN and JESSICA GREEN
A former builder who received £105 million within the EuroMillions lottery is alleged to be lacking his outdated life and the banter on a constructing website, in response to his outdated associates.
Self-employed Steve Thompson, 46, from Selsey, West Sussex, received the huge jackpot again in 2019 after enjoying the lottery for 25 years.
The modest builder and his shop-assistant spouse Lenka, 44, from Slovakia, packed up their £150,000 three-bedroom terraced home and moved to a £4.5million sprawling property in Kent.
However his buddies advised The Solar this week that Mr Thompson longs for his former life. And he is not the one winner who seemingly regrets their supposed good luck, with a number of believing it modified their lives for the more serious.
Right here, FEMAIL reveals the winners who apparently imagine they misplaced out ultimately.
Self-employed Steve Thompson (pictured together with his spouse Lenka Thomson), 46, from Selsey, West Sussex, received the huge jackpot again in 2019 after enjoying the lottery for 25 years
BUILDER ’PINING FOR OLD LIFE BACK ON CONSTRUCTION SITE AND MISSES ’BANTER’ WITH HIS WORK COLLEAGUES
Self-employed builder Steve Thompson, 46, from Selsey, West Sussex, received £105 million again in 2019 after enjoying the lottery for 25 years.
However his buddies say Mr Thompson longs for his former life. One mentioned: ’Steve clearly feels actually fortunate to be within the place he is in.
’However nothing may’ve ready him for the change in his life after he received the EuroMillions. He is a really modest, humble bloke and cherished his life as a builder.
’Steve misses the job and all that comes with it, like the good lads he labored with and the sensible banter they’d collectively on website’, the anonymous buddy advised The Solar.
The couple determined to remain of their three-bedroom residence with their two sons and daughter for a 12 months earlier than shifting to a unique county.
When he first purchased the six-bedroom residence, hidden away in 14.5 acres of land and kitted out with a swimming pool and tennis courtroom, the winner mentioned: ’The children have lastly received their very own bedrooms.’
When he received, the devoted builder vowed to complete the roles he was in the course of engaged on.
He advised clients: ’Don’t fret, I am going to maintain to it and get all my jobs performed’ in addition to promising to present again to the area people.
The modest builder and his shop-assistant spouse Lenka, 44, from Slovakia, packed up their £150,000 three-bedroom terraced home and moved to a £4.5million sprawling property in Kent
Mr Thompson’s buddies, nonetheless, mentioned he now longs for his outdated life, lacking the banter on the constructing website. Pictured: The couple’s outdated three-bed terraced home in Selsey, West Sussex, earlier than they moved to a £4.5million residence in Kent
The builder gave £50,000 to the college his youngsters attended, £50,000 to a medical centre and £100,000 to his beloved cricket membership.
On the time his then 10-year-old son begged their father for a Tesla automobile, whereas his then eight-year-old daughter requested for a pink iPhone.
Talking on the time, Mr Thomson mentioned he solely realised he had received as he waited to be picked up for work three days after the draw was made.
He mentioned: ’I’m not certain I even regarded on the first two strains, the third one simply jumped out and I may immediately inform all of them matched. I began shaking quite a bit. I knew it was a extremely massive win however did not know what to do.
’I went out to my van, walked again in, thought of knocking on a neighbour’s door, went again to the van – I feel I used to be on the verge of getting a coronary heart assault.’
He mentioned his dad and mom refused to imagine he had scooped the jackpot, telling him: ’We’ll imagine it after we see it.’ Mr Thomson mentioned: ’Now they imagine it.’
STALKERS, DEATH THREATS AND NEARLY DIED AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS ON PLASTIC SURGERY
Britain’s youngest EuroMillions winner revealed how her win did not carry her happiness, saying in January this 12 months that she would not ’want it on anybody’
Britain’s youngest EuroMillions winner revealed how her win did not carry her happiness, saying in January this 12 months that she would not ’want it on anybody’.
Showing on an episode of the US TV present Dr Phil, Jane Park, 27, mentioned the downsides of her £1million EuroMillions windfall in 2013 when she was 17-years- outdated.
Within the episode, titled ’The Curse of the Lottery,’ Jane, from Edinburgh, was joined on the CBS present by specialists discussing the chances of lotteries and the explanations individuals enter.
Jane mentioned she was too younger to deal with stalkers, loss of life threats, and unfavourable media consideration, after beforehand saying the windfall had ’ruined’ her life.
On Dr Phil Jane defined she was ’inspired’ to go public due to how younger she was and that it was nearly ’unheard’.
The host requested her how she dealt with the cash at a younger age, and Jane replied: ’I splashed out a bit as a result of I by no means knew the worth of 1,000,000 kilos, I might by no means seen that sort of cash.
’I by no means knew anybody with that sort of cash, so I sort of splashed out on stuff that I’ve at all times needed.’
Dr Phil then talked about the abuse that Jane has obtained up to now ten years.
The influencer has spent an estimated £50,000 on beauty surgical procedure. She has revealed how she hated her physique picture when she was youthful
He mentioned: ’You had stalkers, loss of life threats, individuals hiding within the bushes and commenting on every part you had been doing, which whenever you’re 17 that sort of will get beneath your pores and skin.’
She replied: ’I want I might by no means received it, I would not want it on anybody.’ Jane described herself as a ’younger, naïve 17-year-old.’
Dr Phil defined how Jane had spent a few of her winnings on beauty surgical procedure, together with a boob job and Brazilian bum elevate, which she by no means would have if she hadn’t have received the cash.
Jane defined: ’I had a process performed in a unique nation and after I flew again I ended up with sepsis.’
In 2018 Jane mentioned she ’practically died’ after present process the ’bum elevate’ process following the loss of life of Leah Cambridge throughout an analogous surgical procedure in Turkey.
She suffered three coronary heart assaults on the Elite Aftercare clinic in Izmir, Turkey, the place a number of actuality stars have additionally undergone the surgical procedure.
In 2019, she revealed she was being profitable by promoting racy topless footage of herself on subscription website OnlyFans.
MARRIAGE FELL APART AFTER AFFAIR
Gareth and Catherine Bull, from Nottinghamshire, landed a staggering £40.6 million EuroMillions jackpot in 2012 – however their relationship got here to an finish after it emerged Gareth had launched into a nine-month affair with a girl who runs a bar in Tenerife
Gareth and Catherine Bull, from Nottinghamshire, landed a staggering £40.6 million EuroMillions jackpot in 2012.
However Catherine, 40, was pictured in 2017 with out her marriage ceremony ring which led to rumours of a divorce.
It seems Gareth had launched into a nine-month relationship with a brand new girl Donna Desporte on a lads’ vacation in Tenerife, the place she runs a bar, whereas he was nonetheless married to Catherine.
It had beforehand been revealed that Catherine was made conscious of the connection after recognizing the pair throughout TV protection of an Anthony Joshua battle in 2017.
The couple subsequently divorced in October that 12 months.
Mom-of-four Donna, from Bournemouth, wrote a guide about her time with ex-bricklayer Gareth referred to as Google Me, No Lies.
In 2017, Donna advised the Sunday Mirror of her nine-month romance with the lottery winner, revealing how he had splashed out on costly journeys and VIP occasions, together with an evening on the BAFTAs.
It had beforehand been revealed that Catherine (proper) was made conscious of the connection after recognizing the pair throughout TV protection of an Anthony Joshua battle in 2017
Mom-of-four Donna Desporte (pictured) wrote a guide about her time with ex-bricklayer Gareth referred to as Google Me, No Lies
She mentioned he had needed to maintain their relationship a secret to keep away from giving his spouse ammunition in the event that they had been to separate.
The guide, whose title was a reference to the alleged dialog that performed out between them once they first met, had been the topic of earlier courtroom hearings.
Final 12 months Gareth was granted an prolonged civil restraint order banning Donna from bringing courtroom actions towards him following a Excessive Courtroom battle.
The everlasting injunction restrains publication of 36 passages from the guide and 4 pictures taken by Gareth ’privately throughout their relationship’.
Donna argued that she had a proper to present her aspect of the story and refute allegations she was a ’w**** and a gold digger’, however the choose dominated there was no authorized public curiosity in her writing about their sexual relationship.
SPLASHED THE CASH ON DRUG-FUELLED PARTIES
Callie Rogers, from Cumbria, scooped £1.8million in 2003. After splashing it on drug-fuelled events, she mentioned it practically broke her however fortunately she’s ’now stronger’
Callie Rogers, from Cumbria, was Britain’s youngest ever lottery winner (pictured in 2003)
Callie Rogers, from Cumbria, was Britain’s youngest ever lottery winner when she scooped £1.8million in 2003.
She received the jackpot when she was simply 16 incomes £3.60 an hour as a checkout lady on the Co-op. On the time, she was dwelling along with her foster dad and mom in Cockermouth.
Inside weeks she met Nicky Lawson, father of her eldest two youngsters, and moved right into a £180,000 bungalow. However 5 years later, her relationship fell aside, resulting in Rogers making an attempt suicide.
At a specific low level, her youngsters had been taken away from her, and he or she splashed £17,000 on a boob job to assist along with her confidence.
She lavished herself with three breast enhancement surgical procedures, drug-fuelled events and £300,000 price of designer garments.
Callie additionally gave round half 1,000,000 kilos to family and friends – and was brutally assaulted after gaining notoriety in her native space.
She mentioned she was focused by individuals who pretended to be her associates solely to siphon her cash away.
In 2018, she revealed how she thought she was going to die after being assaulted by two girls on an evening out.
It was reported that the lottery winner was claiming Common Credit score regardless of her 2003 win (pictured on This Morning in 2018)
She was knocked unconscious, had her tooth smashed, ribs damaged and suffered everlasting injury to her sight. Marie Hinde, then 38, and Jade Quayle, then 27, had been jailed.
Final 12 months she was additionally lately hit with a driving ban after her 4×4 crashed right into a hedge while she was excessive on cocaine, The Solar reported.
It was reported that the lottery winner was claiming Common Credit score regardless of her win.
The revelation got here in courtroom whereas the choose handed her a 22-month driving ban after she crashed her 4×4 whereas excessive on cocaine.
Rogers needed to be pepper sprayed when police detained her after she veered off a rustic lane whereas being chased by police in Cumbria.
She has beforehand advised how her lottery win despatched her on a downward trajectory and has referred to as for extra protections for younger winners.
Rogers advised Nearer journal in 2013: ’It was an excessive amount of cash for somebody so younger. Even when you say your life will not change, it does – and sometimes not for the higher. It practically broke me however fortunately, I am now stronger.’
FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY
There are a number of Lotto winners for who it is all gone tragically unsuitable after they received tons of of 1000’s or typically hundreds of thousands however find yourself penniless. Thomas Markle, the Duchess of Sussex’s father, scooped $750,000 however filed for chapter in 2016
Thomas Markle received $750,000 on the California state lottery in 1990 when Meghan Markle was simply 9.
The daddy of the now Duchess of Sussex used her start date for one of many numbers within the profitable ticket.
Markle despatched a buddy to select up his lottery winnings from Chicago, in response to The Occasions.
Writer Andrew Morton, claimed in his guide Meghan: A Hollywood Princess that the win paid for Meghan’s personal faculty charges, setting her on a path to appearing success and finally to assembly Prince Harry – who she married in Might 2018.
The Hollywood lighting technician received $750,000 on the California state lottery in 1990 when Meghan Markle was simply 9 (pictured along with her father and mom Doria Ragland)
After sending Meghan to non-public faculty, Thomas additionally used his winnings to assist his son Thomas Jnr to arrange a flower store and he purchased daughter Samantha Markle a automobile.
Within the build-up to the royal marriage ceremony, her brother Thomas Jnr advised The Mail on Sunday: ’If Meg marries Harry she’ll have received the lottery of life – however dad profitable the lottery helped us all.
’That cash allowed Meg to go to the most effective faculties and get the most effective coaching. Meg is somebody who has at all times had laser focus. She is aware of what she desires and he or she does not cease till she will get it.
’She was at all times the household’s princess however now she’s going to be an actual princess and I could not be extra proud.’
Tom additionally mentioned that his dad misplaced an enormous chunk of the cash after investing in a jewelry enterprise that failed and Thomas ended up submitting for chapter in 2016.
BLEW £10 MILLION FORTUNE BEFORE RETURNING TO JOB AS BIN MAN
Michael Carroll, from Norfolk, who was often called the Lotto Lout after he blew his £10million fortune on flash vehicles and partying earlier than asking for his outdated job again as a bin man (pictured in 2002)
His marriage to Sandra Aitken fell aside after she accused him of sleeping with intercourse employees – however they remarried years later
Half-time bin man Michael Carroll, 39, from Norfolk, scooped £9,736,131 on the Nationwide Lottery in November 2002 when he was simply 19.
Michael, who was dubbed the Lotto Lout and the King of Chavs, was sporting an digital tag when he purchased his profitable ticket.
The lottery winner admitted to turning into a ’full-blown alcoholic’, and mentioned he would go on extravagant holidays to the Costa del Sol.
He did give £4 million to family and friends, together with his aunt and uncle who raised him following his father’s loss of life when he was solely 10 years outdated.
The remainder of the cash, nonetheless, funded an excessive way of life, together with a mansion in Swaffham, Norfolk, two different properties, and racing vehicles.
The decadent and mischievous antics introduced a swift finish to his marriage to spouse Sandra Aitken after she accused him of sleeping with intercourse employees. She had been seven months pregnant with their daughter earlier than he received the lottery.
Michael has made no secret of his womanising, and claims to have bedded some 4,000 girls.
Michael continued to dwell in extravagance, and appeared in courtroom over 30 instances, principally arriving in sports activities vehicles and ingesting booze.
He was handed an ASBO for terrorising his neighbours and was jailed for 5 months in 2004 after failing to adjust to a drug remedy order imposed as a part of a sentence for cocaine possession.
His accountant warned him in 2005 that he was all the way down to his final million, and in February 2006 he was jailed for 9 months for affray.
By February 2013, he was declared bankrupt and located himself again on Jobseeker’s Allowance. At his lowest level he moved right into a resort for homeless individuals for 3 months whereas he struggled to search out work on account of his repute.
He then labored on the Walkers biscuit manufacturing unit in Aberlour, earlier than getting a licence to work in an abattoir.
In 2019, it was revealed Michael had moved to Scotland and was working seven days per week as a coal miner.
’I do not look again with any regrets that is for certain. It was ten years of enjoyable for a pound, you may’t go unsuitable with that,’ Mickey advised The Mirror. ’I would not wish to flip the clock again. However I dwell , free way of life now and I am happier as a result of I’ve received my life again.’
He nonetheless occasional performs the lottery and mentioned if he received once more, ’he’d be down the yard at six each morning simply to maintain out of hassle’.
In 2021 it was revealed he had remarried his ex-wife, and the 2 are actually reportedly dwelling a quiet life in Belfast.
A supply advised the Day by day Report: ’Mickey’s calmed down quite a bit and has been dwelling fairly a pleasant wee life and dealing arduous. Him and Sandra buried the hatchet and received again collectively and it has all labored out nicely for them.
’It occurred in a short time in the previous couple of months however they fell proper again in love and are actually completely happy collectively now. What’s up to now has been forgotten about.’
LOST HIS WINNINGS AFTER BAD INVESTMENTS
John McGuinness, from Scotland, was working as a hospital porter when he received £10million again in 1997 however misplaced all of it in dangerous investments and a lavish way of life
John McGuinness, from Scotland, was working as a hospital porter when he received £10million again in 1997.
On the time, he was incomes simply £150 per week and was dwelling together with his dad and mom of their council home. He lavished greater than £ 3million on shut members of his household and gave £750,000 to his ex-wife Hazel.
He swapped his battered outdated Vauxhall Astra for a £140,000 Ferrari Modena Spyder. Different vehicles adopted and at one level he had six within the drive, together with a Bentley, Mercedes, Jaguars and BMWs.
He snapped up a £500,000 seafront house in Majorca, went on Caribbean cruises, five-star ski journeys and holidays all over the world.
He purchased a luxurious £1.3million mansion in Bothwell, which has an unimaginable view overlooking the River Clyde. He moved his spouse, Sandra, and his household into the Lanarkshire manor after his massive win.
In 2004, John moved from one luxurious mansion to a different simply 20ft away – so he may have room for a snooker desk in his video games room.
However it was his lifelong ardour for Livingston Soccer Membership that ultimately ruined him as John used his riches as a assure towards the membership’s loans, which means he was chargeable for all of the debt.
On the time of his Lotto win he was incomes simply £150 per week and was dwelling together with his dad and mom of their council home (pictured in 1997)
John ploughed £4million into the membership, which then went into administration. He stayed silent since then however determined to talk out in 2012 after the failed former soccer boss Dominic Keane was cleared of a £2million financial institution fraud.
John misplaced hundreds of thousands within the doomed enterprise to purchase Livingston with ex-Celtic director Keane.
Keane was accused in courtroom of tricking the lotto millionaire into signing an extension to a £2million mortgage, however he walked free after a jury took 40 minutes to search out him not responsible.
Talking to the Day by day Report, John mentioned: ’I do know within the eyes of the legislation no one is responsible for me shedding my cash…however I do know who I blame. I gave my cash to Dominic Keane and now it is all gone and I’ve received nothing.
’Somebody should have taken it. If I had by no means met him, I might nonetheless be sitting with about £5million within the financial institution and I’d have been fairly completely happy having fun with an excellent life.’
MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED AND WAS LATER FOUND DEAD
Abraham Shakespeare, from Florida, hit the jackpot after profitable $30million however had his luck run out when he mysteriously disappeared and was later discovered deceased (pictured in 2006)
In 2006, Florida man Abraham Shakespeare, 42, received $30million, and obtained $17million, after shopping for two lottery tickets at an area comfort retailer.
He shared his generosity by buying properties for his cousins and paying off a enterprise mortgage price £72,000 ($87,000) for a buddy.
Nevertheless, lower than two years after hanging it wealthy, Abraham was not solely all the way down to his final £1.2 million ($2 million) however he additionally mysteriously disappeared.
Police later found that he was murdered by DeeDee Moore, a girl who had focused him for the money-. He hadbeen shot twice with a .38-caliber pistol.
Prosecutors mentioned the 49-year-old Moore befriended Shakespeare, who was illiterate, in late 2008, claiming she was writing a guide about how individuals had been making the most of him.
They declare Moore later turned his monetary adviser, ultimately controlling each asset he had left after his loss of life, together with an costly residence, the debt owed to him and a $1.5million annuity.
’She received each little bit of his cash,’ mentioned Assistant State Lawyer Jay Pruner in closing arguments. ’He discovered about it and threatened to kill her. She killed him first.’
Moore additionally insisted that she had identified Shakespeare for less than 4 months previous to his loss of life, which might not have given her sufficient time to plot his homicide.
DeeDee had managed to take nearly £1.2 million ($2million) from Shakespeare by the point she orchestrated his killing.
She and her boyfriend buried him beneath a concrete slab in a wooded space afterwards.
Dorice Donegan ’Dee Dee’ Moore, who’s in jail for the homicide of lottery winner Abraham Shakespeare (pictured in jail 2022)
Moore led police to the burial website after a sting operation, throughout which an undercover officer recorded her admitting that she knew the placement of Shakespeare’s physique.
He was lacking for a number of months earlier than she ultimately admitted the place his physique was, she is now doing a life sentence for his homicide in jail.
Moore has maintained her innocence and has repeatedly appealed her conviction, which was upheld twice – in 2015 and 2019.
Moore wrote in a letter to the courtroom in 2019 that she regretted not being truthful throughout her trial, however she continued to take care of that she didn’t shoot Shakespeare. ’I actually didn’t kill him,’ she wrote.
This 12 months it emerged that Moore is an unlikely supporter of a brand new invoice that might hold the names of jackpot winners a secret for 90 days within the US.
In a phone interview from behind bars, Dee Dee argued that publicly figuring out winners and sharing particulars about their windfall ’places a goal on them.’
Florida lawmakers say giving winners three months ought to afford them enough time to rent safety, inform their family members in regards to the win, and search funding recommendation in peace.
In her newest interview from Lowell Correctional Establishment, Moore mentioned protecting lottery winners’ names secret even for 90 days wasn’t lengthy sufficient. She mentioned particulars about whether or not a winner selected a lump-sum payout or funds over time additionally shouldn’t be disclosed.
’I do not really feel that is sufficient time,’ she mentioned. ’You have to perceive, this individual has to vary their entire life round.’
She mentioned a lottery winner would wish at the very least six months of privateness. ’Ninety days is nothing, you see how fast time flies,’ mentioned Moore, who has been in a state jail for practically 3,400 days.
ROBBED A DOZEN TIMES AND FAMILY MEMBERS DIED
Jack Whittaker received a whopping £261 million ($315million) in 2002 which was then the most important lottery jackpot received by a single ticket in the US. Nevertheless in 2005, Whittaker’s granddaughter Brandi, (left) who he deliberate to depart his cash to, was discovered useless
West Virginia businessman Jack Whittaker received a whopping £261 million ($315million) in 2002, which was then the most important lottery jackpot received by a single ticket in the US.
He selected to obtain greater than $113million in money, however quickly used it up and mentioned he had been robbed a dozen instances, CNN reported.
Lower than a 12 months after his win, £451, 000 ($545,000) of money was taken from his automobile, which he parked at a strip membership. 5 months later, $200,000 was taken from the identical automobile in the identical parking zone.
Then once more in 2018, $100,000 was heisted out of his automobile whereas it was parked in entrance of his home.
In response to the Washington Publish, whereas boozing it up at an area bar, he loudly provided one feminine bartender cash for intercourse. He later proffered $10,000 to a different bartender if she would pose for him in her underwear.
Jack and his spouse Jewell, proper, and their granddaughter Brandi Bragg, 15, left, posed for {a photograph} after being interviewed on NBC’s Immediately Present in New York in 2002
In 2004, a buddy of Whittaker’s granddaughter Brandi, was discovered lifeless from a drug overdose in Whittaker’s home.
In 2005, Brandi, who he deliberate to depart his cash to, was discovered useless, wrapped in plastic with medication in her system however the official reason behind her loss of life shouldn’t be identified.
Two years later, her mom – Whittaker’s daughter Ginger – died of a drug overdose.
By the point of her loss of life, he mentioned his financial institution accounts had been empty. He blamed his family members deaths’ on the profitable ticket, assuming that they purchased the medication which killed them together with his cash.
’My granddaughter is useless due to the cash. She was the shining star of my life, and he or she was what it was all about for me.
’You realize, my spouse mentioned she wished that she had torn the ticket up. Properly, I want that we tore the ticket up too,’ he advised ABC’s 20/20.
In 2016, his Bland County, Virginia, home burnt down in a fireplace which had began within the kitchen. The fireplace was reported at 7am on Friday, and firefighters from 5 completely different departments arrived. The home sustained intensive injury and was ultimately declared a complete loss.
Whittaker’s spouse was inside the house on the time, however she emerged safely. Jack Whittaker died of pure causes on June 27 2020 on the age of 72.