A colossal £134 million EuroMillions jackpot has officially gone unclaimed after the mystery winner failed to come forward within the 180-day deadline, in what represents one of the biggest unclaimed prizes in UK lottery history.
The life-changing ticket was purchased for the draw held on June 11th, 2024, but despite extensive appeals from National Lottery operators Camelot, the rightful owner never stepped forward to claim their fortune.
The Search for the Missing Millionaire
National Lottery officials launched a major campaign to find the ticket holder, urging players in the UK to check their old tickets carefully. The winning numbers were 05, 10, 15, 20, 25 with Lucky Stars 03 and 07.
Andy Carter, Senior Winners' Advisor at The National Lottery, expressed his disappointment, stating: "We tried desperately hard to find the ticket-holder and it's a real shame that we've had to come to the conclusion that we'll never know who bought that ticket."
Where the Unclaimed Millions Will Go
The staggering £134,525,458.20 prize money won't disappear entirely. Under National Lottery rules, all unclaimed prizes plus the interest earned are transferred to National Lottery-funded projects across the UK.
This means the money will benefit various charities, community groups, and heritage projects throughout the country, supporting everything from sports facilities to arts programmes and environmental initiatives.
A Warning to Lottery Players
This heartbreaking situation serves as a stark reminder to all lottery participants:
- Always check your tickets promptly after each draw
- Sign the back of your ticket to establish ownership
- Keep tickets in a safe place until you've verified the numbers
- Set reminders for important deadlines
This isn't the first time a massive prize has gone unclaimed. In 2012, a £63 million EuroMillions jackpot also remained uncollected, setting the previous record for the UK's largest unclaimed lottery fortune.
