I was a mechanic before winning £107MILLION EuroMillions jackpot – now I’ve bought my own racing team and supercar
A MECHANIC who scooped a jaw-dropping £107million prize used his new-found fortune to nab his own racing team and a fleet of eye-catching supercars.
Neil Trotter, from Surrey, bagged the incredible winnings after buying a EuroMillions Lucky Dip back in 2014.
Former car mechanic Neil had always had a penchant for motorsport racing, but could never pursue his passion because of work commitments.
However, after banking the life-changing cash prize, the multi-millionaire now owns his own race team – called Chameleon Motorsport.
Neil also ditched his Ford Focus and forked out on a fleet of luxury models, which include a Jaguar and Porsche.
The jackpot winner then splashed the cash on a 500-acre estate with its own lake for him and his partner Nicky Ottaway.
The huge mansion, in southern England, was poles apart from the three-bedroom house he used to live in.
Speaking back in 2019 he said: “Being a Trotter, I knew I’d be a millionaire one day – and I somehow knew I’d win the Lottery.
“I used to tell my dad I’d have a house with a lake, and he’d say, ‘In your dreams, son!’.
“I had such a strong feeling on the Friday that I’d win, I told the secretary at work.
“Winning allowed me to go back to my first love – racing. And I‘ve the house with a lake.”
Despite his winnings, Neil has stayed humble and doesn’t dress like a multi-millionaire.
It means many people have often mistaken him for someone who tends to plants for a living.
He told podcaster Timothy Schultz: “People think I’m the gardener because I always walk around in tatty stuff.”
After buying the huge estate, Neil then started an ambitious building process to transform the property into a lavish home.
The 50-year-old added: “I always dreamt of having my own lake but owning so much land has been a huge challenge and responsibility.”
The pad was in need of restoration and the surrounding land needed to be spruced up.
His partner initially “[tried] to talk” Neil out of buying the property – as she thought the project was “too big”.
“The woodlands were in a poor state, there were so many dead trees everywhere and the house was barely liveable, despite its size,” she said.
However, Neil worked hard dredging ponds, lakes and removing tonnes of dead trees from woodlands.
I had such a strong feeling on the Friday that I’d win, I told the secretary at work
Neil Trotter
The lucky man said the years following his win have been challenging because of the ambitious project.
But he now feels proud about his new home.
He said: “It has been a challenging nine years but I am immensely proud of what we have achieved and I’m never bored!
“I have learnt so much about how to manage woods and to reverse the effects of intensive farming.”
It comes as a jaw-dropping £110M is up for grabs in tomorrow’s EuroMillions draw, which could see one lucky UK player preparing for a life in the fast lane.
Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at The National Lottery, said “EuroMillions players’ hearts will be racing this weekend with this exciting EuroMillions £110M Super jackpot ready to be won!
“I’ve been lucky enough to have met so many players that have won big on The National Lottery, and the best advice I can give to any new winner is to take your time to plan out what you want to do with the win and who you want to help out.
“Whilst supercars and extravagant holidays are great, it’s always best to take a minute to really think about what you want to spend the life-changing win on before rushing into making any big decisions.
“My team and I have our fingers crossed for all UK players and are on standby to support our big winners as they start their life-changing journey.”
The UK's biggest-ever lottery winners
Joe and Jess Thwaite (£184million)
Joe Thwaite, 49, and Jess Thwaite, 46, decided to go public after winning a record-breaking EuroMillions jackpot in May 2022.
The Gloucestershire couple, who have been married for 11 years, won a massive £184million.
But when Joe got the email with the shocking news he didn’t even wake hairdresser Jess.
Jess said that Joe got up as usual at 5.15am to sort out the couple’s dogs.
She said: “Once the dogs were happy he checked his phone and saw the email from The National Lottery saying, ‘Good news, you’ve won a prize’.”
Joe added: “I looked it up and saw we’d won. I saw how much and I didn’t know what to do.
“I couldn’t go back to sleep, I didn’t want to wake Jess up so I just laid there for what seemed like forever.
“I spent some time searching for property with no budget limit, which was a novelty!”
The Sun revealed last year that the couple are ready to splash the cash – on a new fence for their neighbour.
Anonymous (£170million)
This winner decided they would stay hidden when they bagged their £170million win in October 2019.
That massive jackpot made them richer than Adele, The Sussexes and Ed Sheeran.
Camelot announced that the winner would not be publicly named unless they decided to.
They matched all five main numbers plus the two lucky stars to secure their millions.
Colin and Chris Weir (£161million)
Colin and Chris Weir won £161million on the EuroMillions in 2011.
They splashed out on a stunning mansion and their humble first buys included a checked sports jacket, a computer and a tractor.
The Scottish couple initially bought Knock House near Largs, but they sold their mansion in favour of an even bigger pad in Troon.
They donated much of their money and set up The Weir Charitable Trust in 2013.
In April 2019, the pair announced they were filing for divorce and released a statement.
In December 2019, Colin died at the age of 71 after succumbing to a “short illness”.
He had invested in companies like Irn-Bru and Greggs, while also sharing around £40million of the win with friends and family.
He saved money to throw his friends a lobster feast at the funeral.
Adrian and Gillian Bayford (£148.6million)
Adrian and Gillian Bayford from Suffolk won £148.6million, after exchange rates, on August 10, 2012 after buying a Lucky Dip from a convenience store.
When they realised they had won, they celebrated by taking their children out for pizza.
Just 15 months after the jackpot win, Gillian divorced Adrian.
Adrian used part of the fortune to set up his own music business and open a shop featuring the world’s largest collection of Lady Gaga memorabilia.
Adrian’s £6.5m mansion with 189 acres and pool was sold because close friends report it has too many memories of pals betraying him.
In February 2017 the wealthy winner’s home was raided in a £100,000 burglary and he has since settled in Perthshire not far from his ex-wife.
Meanwhile Gillian had a bit of strife of her own as her father blasted her saying he “only received £1million” from his daughter despite her claims she gave him £20m.
Dad Ian McCulloch said: “Gillian’s whole life is shredded with lies. Her life is a total mess – a fabrication.”
In August 2018, Gillian married convicted fraudster Brian Deans.
She had a baby at the age of 48 during lockdown and said she had always wanted another baby.
Adrian was recently forced to cancel a music festival after neighbours filed complaints.