Curious 212 million winnings in England

177 million pounds or the equivalent of 212 million euros – a sum that literally takes your breath away. This gigantic number recently turned out to be the jackpot win in the EuroMillions lottery in Great Britain. But instead of causing shouts of joy and a flurry of camera flashes, a confusing interlude followed that kept the country on tenterhooks for two whole days. The reason was a strange twist in the announcement of the winning numbers that sent the lottery world into a tailspin.

What happened?

The actually simple EuroMillions numbers were published by the renowned Press Association – one of the largest news providers in Great Britain – with an additional number. This tiny but momentous glitch set off an unprecedented chain reaction: players frantically checked their tickets, many media outlets picked up the incorrect report – and the actual winner remained hidden. Hours later, the news agency re-released the numbers, which were 07, 11, 25, 31 and 40, with the lucky numbers 09 and 12.

Only after two days and an official correction could the record amount finally be paid out.

From euphoria to confusion

When the news of the gigantic win spread through the British media and lottery companies, there was initially great enthusiasm. The operators of the EuroMillions lottery promised a quick validation process in which the lucky ticket would be officially confirmed and the winnings would be paid out after a personal appointment with a National Lottery advisor. Speaking of which: In early summer, the EuroJackpot lottery (as a direct competitor of the EuroMillions) published interesting insights into what Germans would not buy with a paid-out lottery win.

The life-changing sum of 177 million pounds was compared with the fortunes of celebrities: the winner would have more in the bank than celebrities like Harry Styles or Anthony Joshua. He could join the upper ranks of the British rich list.

But instead of a smooth process, the payout of the jackpot took an unusually long time.

A win for the history books

Andy Carter, senior advisor to winners at UK lottery company Allwyn, summed up the situation with palpable joy:

“Wow, it was a truly incredible night for a single UK ticket holder who hit the staggering £177 million EuroMillions jackpot tonight. The win has earned him a place on the National Lottery’s top list as he became the third biggest winner of all time! What a wonderful win just before Christmas. We can’t wait to pay out this amazing prize.”

It’s hard to believe that a ticket with a £177 million win can be topped. In fact, there were two more tickets in England that won more:

• On July 19, 2022, an anonymous ticket holder hit the EuroMillions record jackpot of £195 million.
• Joe and Jess Thwaite from Gloucester, who won a whopping £184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket for the draw on May 10, 2022, are in second place.
• The 2024 £177 million winner, who came third in this ranking, has also remained anonymous so far.

Carter and his team, who have a lot of experience in looking after mega winners, are preparing to accompany the lucky winner through the first steps of his new life. Such support is of key importance, because a sum of this size requires financial skill on the one hand, but also mental preparation to master the sudden changes in everyday life on the other.