Did an Irish Syndicate Just Bag the £76M EuroMillions Jackpot?
Last Updated: Wednesday 23rd September 2020, 14:04
A single EuroMillions ticket bought in Ireland broke a chain of seven rollovers on Tuesday night to scoop a massive jackpot — but the winner’s identity is a mystery.
Dozens of big cash prizes — many worth more than a quarter of a million — have been picked up by EuroMillions players this year so far. But the last time anyone managed to pocket the top prize was at the end of December last year, when a single Spanish ticket-holder nabbed £21.5 million all for themselves.
January didn’t have to go without a winner for too long, however. It was revealed late on Tuesday evening that a single ticket purchased in Ireland had matched all five main numbers — 1, 5, 7, 17, 23 and the Lucky Stars 3 and 8 — in the 24th January EuroMillions draw, marking the lottery’s first jackpot win of 2017 and prompting a flurry of excitement. So much excitement, in fact, that players crashed the Irish National Lottery’s website as they feverishly attempted to check their tickets against the winning numbers.
Two days later, however, and the identity of the winner remains a mystery. Spurred on by lottery officials’ use of the word “winners” in an official statement regarding the draw, rumours abound that a syndicate of pharmaceutical workers from the Johnson and Johnson factory in either Cork or Limerick were the lucky EuroMillions winners. But the Irish Sun reports today that there were no signs of celebration at the plant in Cork, stating that “everyone looked relaxed around the grounds of the complex”.
Of course, just like in the UK, EuroMillions players in Ireland are able to remain completely anonymous in the event of a win. With Tuesday night’s jackpot ticket potentially being shared by two or more people, however, the chances of one of the winners’ identities, or at least city of residence, eventually slipping out is higher than normal.
This Friday’s EuroMillions jackpot is an estimated £14 million, plus two guaranteed winners of £1 million in the UK Millionaire Maker raffle. Perhaps this time next week, you’ll be the one trying to stifle a smile as those around you discuss the rumours of a local jackpot winner?