Meet Britain’s youngest lottery winners who’ve all scooped big jackpots under the age of 25… and some aren’t as happy as you might think
After news Euromillions winner Jane Park wants to sue lottery
bosses for ruining her teenage years, we find out what happened to
Britain’s youngest Lotto winners
MOST of us
can only dream of the vast riches a lottery win could provide and while
many people spend their lives buying tickets week in and week out, it’s
unlikely we will ever scoop that jackpot.
But, what about those who bag a big win while they’re still young?
And some of them aren’t as happy as you might think…
Jane Park
Jane, now 21, scooped £1million when she was just 17 – but is now considering suing lotto bosses.Jane won the jackpot while playing her first ever lottery ticket, but now believes that Camelot should not be allowing people her age to win such vast sums of money.
Speaking to the Sunday People, she said: “I have material things but apart from that my life is empty. What is my purpose in life?”
Jane said: “I thought it would make [my life] ten times better but it’s made it ten times worse.
“I wish I had no money most days.
“I say to myself, ‘My life would be so much easier if I hadn’t won.’”
She added: “I think 18 should be the minimum age for winning the lottery, at the least.
“The current age of 16 is far too young.”
Callie Rogers
Callie Rogers became Britain’s youngest lottery winner when she won £1.9million in 2003.The 16-year-old from Cumbria gave up her £3.60-an-hour checkout job and set about spending her money.
Within a month Callie, who was in foster care after leaving home when her biological parents split up, had also bought a £180,000 bungalow and a £76,000 home for her mum.
“It was too much money for someone so young,” she told Closer Magazine.
“Even if you say your life won’t change, it does and often not for the better.”
She later described the win as a “curse” which drove her to consider suicide.
“I took paracetamol and sleeping tablets. Fortunately, my family found me and took me to hospital,” she said.
Thirteen years after her win, Callie had just £2,000 left but said she feels happy, stable and fulfilled.
“The pressure to splash out and live a glam party life has gone – and I prefer it,” she said.
Michael Carroll
Part-time binman Michael Carroll, who was wearing an electronic tag when he bought his winning ticket, splashed out on a £340,000 on a six-bedroom home in Norfolk.
Not content with the swish property, he lavished £400,000 on a series of upgrades including a swimming pool and a car track in the garden.
Michael also spent around £1million on shares in his beloved Rangers FC and £49,000 on a BMW.
He failed to splash out on any car insurance though, or driving lessons, and was banned from driving for six months in 2004.
‘Lotto lout’ Michael blew millions on crack cocaine, booze, gambling and prostitutes.
“I only started to think about three things – drugs, sex and gold,” he said. “The dealer who introduced me to crack has more of my lotto money than I do.”
He also racked up an Asbo for terrorising his neighbours and spent time in jail for affray and failing to comply with a drug treatment order.
By February 2010, Michael was declared bankrupt and was claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance.
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the £15m lampshade
Lottery winners hid lucky ticket inside LANTERN while they went on hols for two weeksLeah Sumray
In 2009 she was jailed for 14 days after she went on holiday instead of giving evidence in court.
The youngster had ignored a witness summons to attend Truro crown court, Cornwall, where she was due to testify against a man on assault charges.
Instead, Leah, from St Ives, chose to jet off on a sunny holiday to Fuerteventura.
Leah, who earned £4.60 an hour before her win, was subsequently arrested at Bristol Airport on her return.
Luke Pittard
The 25-year-old, from Cardiff, applied to get his old job back 18 months after his win because he missed his old workmates.
He said: “They all think I’m a bit mad but I tell them there’s more to life than money.
“I loved working at McDonald’s before I became a millionaire and I’m really enjoying being back there again.”
Ianthe Fullagar
The teen initially thought she’d only matched three numbers, but was left in total shock when she discovered that she had all five numbers plus one lucky star.
Ianthe, from Cumbria, reportedly toasted her win with lashings of cider and baked beans on toast and had been was working as a waitress for £4.75 an hour when she bought her winning ticket.
Ianthe was so worried she might lose her winning ticket after discovering her good fortune that she kept it hidden in her bra until she could claim the prize.
She went on to become the 27th richest young person in the UK after her windfall.
Matt Topham and Cassey Carrington
The childhood sweethearts went on to buy a house for themselves and one for a friend – as well as splashing out on sports cars and holidays for family and friends.
The couple welcomed their first child, a little boy called Alfie, in December 2014.
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