Would You Stay Anonymous if You Won Tonight’s EuroMillions Jackpot?
Last Updated: Wednesday 23rd September 2020, 14:03
It’s fair to say that winning tonight’s EuroMillions jackpot of £134 million would certainly rank as one of the most impressive accomplishments of your life. But with a huge lottery win comes one of the toughest decisions you’ll ever have to make; do you remain anonymous or embrace the media circus?
This is certainly a choice that lottery winners have given a great deal of thought to, weighing up the pros and cons of both options. Yes, lapping up the limelight would allow you to be completely honest with your friends and family, but would the price of fame prove too costly? Alternatively, you could keep it a secret, but to what lengths would you have to go to keep the good news under wraps?
Going Public
Going public can be great, especially if you’re a flamboyant character who has always yearned for the attention of others. You’ll be presented before the world’s media and enjoy all the attention anyone could ever crave; however, be aware that everybody knowing your name can have its pitfalls.
Jane Park is the perfect example of how landing a massive sum of money can have its ups and downs. Yes, the UK’s youngest ever EuroMillions winner may have been the envy of many following her £1 million lottery success, but the Edinburgh-based victor, who was 17 when she won, hasn’t been able to make the same mistakes that some other teenagers make without it becoming headline news. The press have picked up on a multitude of misdemeanors, including her arrest for drink-driving in 2016.
As if the constant snooping into your private life wasn’t bad enough, you could very well be forced to deal with long-lost ‘friends’ asking for handouts, not to mention people from your past attempting to sell stories about you unless you transfer them substantial sums of money. There is also the possibility of your address being revealed, opening the floodgates for a tsunami of begging letters to hit your front door step.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom if you reveal your identity. Colin and Chris Weir became the winners of the biggest lottery prize in UK history when they landed a cheque for £161.6 million in July 2011. Not wanting to deceive their loved ones, the Ayrshire couple decided to accept the media attention: “We would have had to have constructed lies for our nearest and dearest. We don’t want to live like that,” said Chris following the win. Since collecting their money, the Weirs have hit the headlines for their generosity, donating cash to the SNP and Partick Thistle Football Club, as well as setting up a charitable trust.
Staying Anonymous
If you’re not one for the constant click of cameras, you can stay anonymous. According to the National Lottery’s Senior Winners’ Advisor Andy Carter, 85 percent of all UK winners opt to remain private. Punting for anonymity would enable you to enjoy your winnings, safe in the knowledge that reporters have no clue as to your identity.
That said, you need to be careful who finds out, as any jealous friends and neighbours could tip off the paparazzi, leading to your exposure. After all, carrying on as normal would be incredibly difficult with £134 million sitting proudly in your bank account.
Winning Tonight’s Jackpot
However you choose to accept your EuroMillions prize, you will receive exactly the same amount of money and expert help and advice from the National Lottery, meaning the decision is entirely up to you. What is certain is that you will need to take part in tonight’s draw in order to win, and you can join a EuroMillions syndicate online or hotfoot it down to your local retailer before the 7:30 PM deadline. Good luck!