December 7th 2024.
Imagine for a moment that you have just won the EuroMillions jackpot – a staggering £184 million. It's a life-changing moment that most people can only dream of. But what actually happens after that initial shock of realizing you have won? We sat down with Joe and Jess Thwaite, the current biggest lottery winners in the UK, to find out how their lives have changed since their May 2022 win.
Of course, the Thwaites are not the first to strike it lucky in the UK. We have seen other incredible jackpot winners, such as Patrick and Frances Connolly who won £114.9 million on New Year's Day, and Ade Goodchild who took home £71 million in March 2019. And let's not forget Colin and Chris Weir, who won a whopping £161 million on EuroMillions back in 2011.
But what happens after that unbelievable moment when you realize that you are now a multimillionaire? Andy Carter, a Senior Winner's Advisor at Camelot, has been helping lottery winners come to terms with their new reality for the past 13 years. He graciously shared with us what really happens after someone strikes it lucky.
The first thing a winner needs to do is call the number on the back of their ticket. This puts them through to a lottery line, and a member of Andy's team will then call them back. This initial phone call is crucial because it sets in motion the necessary steps that all lottery winners must follow to claim their prize.
From that moment on, the winners are looked after every step of the way by a dedicated team of National Lottery "Winner's Advisors" like Andy. Their job is to support the winners and guide them through the entire process so they can start enjoying their newfound fortune. They will first call the winners back as quickly as possible once a prize has been claimed, and then they will arrange a personal visit to their home.
During this home visit, the winner's identity and ticket will be verified, and any questions they may have will be answered. "Within half an hour, I can tell if someone has won the money," Andy revealed. As you can imagine, someone who has just become a millionaire has a lot of questions, and the advisors are there to help. "Sometimes we spend the whole day just answering their questions," Andy said.
As soon as the winning ticket is verified and the winner's identity is confirmed, the Lottery can pay the money on the same day. However, it takes two days for the money to process before it can be withdrawn. This means that the longest a winner has to wait before getting their hands on their fortune is around three days.
But where do lottery winners actually keep their money? Well, the Lottery only deposits the money into one bank account, which is chosen by the winner. Usually, a new account is opened with a private arm of the chosen bank that specializes in handling large sums of money. This account can be open for as long as the winner needs it to be, or they can transfer the money to other accounts once it has cleared.
Many people wonder if EuroMillions winners can remain anonymous. According to Andy, "all winners are anonymous." This is the default position for all lottery winners, giving them the privacy and security they desire.
So, there you have it – a glimpse into what happens after someone wins the EuroMillions jackpot. It's a whirlwind of emotions and life-changing decisions, but with the help of the National Lottery team, winners can navigate their new reality and start living their dreams.
We all dream of winning the lottery and becoming overnight millionaires, but what actually happens when that dream becomes a reality? For lottery winners, their lives are forever changed from the moment they realize they hold the winning ticket. Metro had the opportunity to sit down with Joe and Jess Thwaite, the current UK record holders for winning the EuroMillions jackpot of £184 million in May of 2022. But they are not the only ones who have struck it lucky in the UK, with names like Patrick and Frances Connolly, Ade Goodchild, and Colin and Chris Weir also joining the list of jackpot winners.
But what happens after that life-changing moment of realizing you hold the winning ticket? Andy Carter, a Senior Winner's Advisor at Camelot, has been helping lottery winners adjust to their new reality for the past 13 years. He sat down with The Agency to reveal what really happens after someone wins the lottery.
The first step for a lucky winner is to call the National Lottery call center, as indicated on the back of the ticket. This call will put them in touch with a member of Andy's team, who will then call them back. This initial phone call is crucial as it sets in motion the necessary steps for claiming the prize.
From there, the winners are taken care of every step of the way by a dedicated team of National Lottery Winner's Advisors, led by Andy. They will visit the winners in person and carry out a series of checks to verify the win. Once the ticket is confirmed as legitimate and the winner's identity is confirmed, the money can be paid out that very day. However, it takes two days for the money to process before it can be withdrawn.
During the home visit, the advisors are also there to answer any questions the winners may have. As you can imagine, becoming a millionaire overnight brings with it a lot of questions. Andy shared that sometimes they spend hours just answering questions for the winners before even opening the computer.
Once the money is paid into a bank account of the winner's choosing, they can then access their newfound fortune. However, the Lottery only allows for one bank account to be used, so there is no hiding the money under a mattress or in a safe. The winner can choose their preferred bank, and a new account is set up specifically for them to hold their winnings.
But what about anonymity? According to Andy, all lottery winners remain anonymous by default. This is to protect the winners' privacy and safety. So while we may dream of becoming an overnight millionaire and having our picture plastered all over the news, in reality, winners can choose to keep their identity a secret.
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