Biographer debunks common myths about Lotto winners after the couple who won UK’s BIGGEST LOTTERY PRIZE reveal their identities
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The couple that won the biggest lottery prize in UK history, a staggering £184 million ($325,661,600), has come forward to claim their prize.
Joe and Jess Thwaite, from the Cotswolds, say they decided to go public with their win in order to avoid the burden of keeping such a secret.
The pair, who have been married for 20 years, say they are still in shock over their good fortune.
The couple say they plan to use some of their winnings to help out family and friends, and to donate to charity.
They also say they will continue to work, despite their newfound wealth.
The Thwaites' story is one of many about ‘ instant millionaires’ that British author Hunter Davies has written about.
Joe and Jess Thwaite have made their identities public after winning the £184 million ($325,661,600) lotto grand prize. Credit: Tom Wien/SWNS.
Mr Davies is one of the journalists and biographers who was given the privilege to get to know some of the Grand Lotto winners under the supervision of the parent company, Camelot.
It should be noted that most winners wished for privacy, hence, information on their identity is strictly kept confidential by the organisation.
Publishing some of the stories in his book "The Heath – My Year On Hampstead Heath", Mr Davies recalled: "When the National Lottery began on November 19, 1994, I bought a ticket. Not to win any money, wash your mouth out. Money is the last thing I need in life. I won the lottery when I married my wife in 1960. Really, my whole life went well from then on."
"Even though she died six years ago and I am now on my own, I count my blessings all the time about how lucky I have been in life. I wanted the ticket for two reasons. As memorabilia, for my collection of social-history ephemera. And also because I had just had the most brilliant idea."
"When I read, as we all did at the time, that Camelot were going to start our first modern lottery and give billions to good causes, to the arts, sports, culture, blah-blah, I thought to hell with the good causes. What about the winners? How will it affect their lives? Poor sods. Will they end up happier? They don’t know how becoming overnight millionaires will hit them."
"I contacted Camelot about doing a book on Lottery winners. I wanted to meet them when they won – then again a year later, to see how their lives have changed."
"After a bit of faffing, Camelot agreed to help. They would even allow me access to some of those who had chosen to remain anonymous. With their agreement, of course."
"And I promised I would change their names and locations to protect their privacy."
Mr Davies had access to the contacts of 20 winners and had kept in touch with them to answer and debunk some myths surrounding winning the Lotto.
Among those myths is the claim that winning the Lotto does not make people happier over long term periods.
The journalist said that while there were couples that have divorced and divided their wins, a number of winners actually had better lives after winning the Lotto.
"So I asked endless questions, and let the winners evaluate their own lives," he shared.
"And my conclusion? That about 90 per cent were indeed happier. If you think about it, much of modern stress is caused by not enough money – not enough food for the children, no proper accommodation, no work. It is pretty clear that money can help ease such problems."
There are a number of myths surrounding the lives of lotto winners, according to Mr Davies. Credit: Daily Mail UK.
Another myth that Mr Davies addresses is that winners often claim that they will give some of their winnings to charity.
In his book, he revealed that only five per cent give some of their money to charity, writing: "In my survey of 20 winners, most had indeed helped their own family but only two had given anything altruistically to charity. And just modest amounts. But they promised themselves they would give more, one day."
Apparently, not all our fantasies about winning the lottery are true after all.
More of these stories can be found in the book The Heath – My Year On Hampstead Heath, by Hunter Davies.
The book, published by Head of Zeus, can be purchased overseas for £25 ($45).
We also recommend checking out this video for more information on the lives of instant millionaires:
Credit: YouTube/60 Minutes Australia
What are your thoughts on this? Should lotto winners be more public about their win? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!
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