Richard Davies, a hairdresser from Talgarth in mid-Wales, has defied astronomical odds by winning the lottery twice. The chances of such an event are estimated at over 24 trillion to one. Davies, who has been playing the lottery since he was 18, always felt he would win big one day.
The First Win
In June 2018, Davies was working at his hair salon when he decided to check his lottery ticket at a nearby shop. The shop was busy, and as a local hairdresser, he knew everyone in the queue. The woman behind the till scanned his ticket and told him she could not pay out the winnings. A Post Office worker offered to pay up to £50,000, but the woman replied that it was more than that. Davies returned to his salon and discovered online that he had won £1 million.
He called his partner, Faye, who was working nights and initially annoyed at being woken up. After confirming the win with the helpline, Davies had to return to his client's hair colour, keeping him grounded amidst the excitement.
Managing the Windfall
Davies did not spend the money immediately. The first thing he did was give some to his four children. They then bought the house they had been renting, purchased new cars, and acquired a field for their dogs. The couple also got married after being together for 10 years, taking their first holiday to Dubai and honeymoon in the Maldives. Davies donated a minibus to the local rugby club and gifted cars to friends and family.
The Second Win
Despite his win, Davies continued playing the lottery, switching to the app to avoid questions from shop customers. In November last year, he checked his messages on the app and saw that he had won another £1 million. He woke Faye up to confirm the news, and they were both in disbelief.
By then, Davies had started working as a delivery driver after closing his salon in 2023. He had taken a year off to fix up a camper van but found that not working was detrimental to his mental health. After the second win, he gave money to his children again and bought their dream house. The couple has no immediate plans for the rest of the money.
Community Reaction
Davies and his wife live in a small community where everyone knows them. People have been genuinely happy for their incredible fortune. Despite the odds, Davies still plays the lottery, believing that anything is possible.
As told to Isabelle Aron.
