British Couple Scoop £161 million ($260 million) on Euro Lottery

Posted by James on Jul 15, 2011 in Finance | 0 comments

A British couple have decided to go public after scooping the largest Euro lottery jackpot in history. The win of £161 million (approx. $260 million) instantly makes them one of the richest couples in the UK.

The couple from Ayrshire won the euro lottery jackpot after it had been rolled over so many times that it had hit the limit of the jackpot prize, further rollovers would have trickled the money down to the lower prize tiers.

That meant that the money they received was the maximum achievable, bar any fluctuations in currency conversion, and the highest euro lottery jackpot payout that has occurred so far.

They had previously been a television cameraman and a psychiatric nurse although the couple have suffered from health problems in recent years and so haven’t been able to work or travel.

They will not have to worry about working any more but travel is something that they will now be able to do in luxury with their windfall. In fact they could have their own private plane if they wanted to.

They say that they have always wanted to see the Great Wall of China, Ayres Rock in Australia and to visit art galleries in Russia and Paris.

The previous highest win from the UK was £113 million last October although they choose to remain anonymous, perhaps sensibility considering the amount of money involved.

People have a curious attitude to lottery winners, treating them much differently than if they had earned the money in some other way. Lottery winners also have a history of losing their winnings, going from moderate income to huge winnings overnight leaves people unable to cope with the sudden wealth.

It will take a lot of spending to get through $259,000,000 though.