Winning millions on the lottery can quickly turn sour, as cautionary tales of previous winners show. From drug addiction to destitution and prison, the 'curse of the lottery' has struck many.
At 16, Callie Rogers from Cumbria won £1.9m in 2003, making her one of the youngest winners. She bought homes for herself and her mother but frittered away the rest on parties, plastic surgery, and drugs. By 2021, she was reportedly struggling on universal credit.
Michael Carroll, a former refuse worker, won almost £10m in 2002 while wearing an electronic tag. He dubbed himself the 'king of chavs' and spent heavily on a house, Rangers shares, and a divorce settlement. He later admitted to thinking only about 'drugs, sex and gold', was jailed for affray, and declared bankrupt in 2010.
Mukhtar Mohidin, a grandfather from Bolton, won £25m on EuroMillions in 2009 and avoided such pitfalls. He bought houses for his daughters, an allotment, and set up a charity. Despite hiring a private jet once, he still drinks at his local pub, saying: 'The reason it makes you happy is what you can do for your grandchildren.'
