Today sees the UK’s largest ever lottery jackpot up for grabs in the Euromillions draw.
If there is only one winner, they stand to scoop the maximum possible amount of €220m (approximately £184m).
The UK’s previous biggest prize fund saw a £170m Euromillions jackpot won by an anonymous ticket holder in 2019.
Andy Carter of Camelot has the job of advising people of their win, and says that over the years he has witnessed a range of reactions. He has seen people “sick with excitement”, people jump up and down, and people immediately resigning from their jobs. At times there have been parties happening already when he has visited some homes. Meanwhile, he also knows of times when husbands and wives have not not told each over about their win.
Mr Carter, or his colleague, is usually one of the first people to speak to a winner, providing them with advice and putting them in contact with people who have previously won. He believes that “the best thing you can do” if you have won a huge sum of money, is “go and have a cup of tea with another winner”. This is because these people will “truly understand” what it is like.
What is the Euromillions jackpot cap?
The Euromillions draw is played in nine countries across Europe. The jackpot is currently capped at €220m. This means that when it reaches that level, no more prize money can be added as it cannot roll over again.
On Friday, the jackpot reached its cap so will stay at the same amount for five draws unless someone wins. On the fifth draw, someone must win the money no matter what. This means it could end up shared among ticket holders who come one number short.
The cap for the Euromillions jackpot increases by €10m any time there is a win in any of the nine countries involved. The most recent rise occurred this year in February. It is possible for it to keep rising up to a maximum of €250m.
The UK’s richest winners
- Britain’s richest ever lottery winner remains anonymous after their £170m win in October 2019.
- Colin and Chris Weir, from North Ayrshire in Scotland won £161m in 2011.
- Adrian and Gillian Bayford, from Suffolk, won £148m in 2012.
- An anonymous UK ticket holder won £123m in June 2019.
- An anonymous UK ticket holder won £122m in April 2021.
With a win of £184m, someone could afford to buy a house in each of the top 10 most expensive streets in the UK. This includes Kensington Palace Gardens in London, where the average price of a house is almost £30m.
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