I spotted terrible mistake on my Lottery ticket & thought ‘that must be wrong’ – but turns out £1MILLION is still mine
A LOTTO winner who scooped £1million in the EuroMillions draw has told how she insisted she “must be wrong” after banking the jackpot prize.
Zoe Hoare and husband Nick bagged the live-changing winnings in May 2017.
The couple were running The White Horse Inn in Quidhampton, Wiltshire, when they matched the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker code.
But Zoe says she was incredulous when she discovered she was a millionaire.
After a busy lunchtime shift, the day after the draw, Zoe heard Nick gasp and looked round to see him, ticket in hand saying: “these match!”
She continued: “I thought he’d made a mistake so took a look myself.
“When I saw they did indeed match, and it was the Millionaire Maker, I couldn’t believe it and just said ‘well that must be wrong then’.
“It was only when I scanned the ticket with the National Lottery app and it pinged that we started to believe it was time to call the number on the back of the ticket.”
GIVING BACK
Zoe dipped into her winnings to set up a ladies boutique aimed at helping mums on benefits get into work.
Working alongside The Women’s Work Lab nine-month programme, which helps mums rebuild confidence and get back to work, Zoe created a pop-up shop providing the perfect clothing for each of the job hunters.
It’s based at The Great Western Hotel, Taunton, Somerset.
Zoe said: “Every one of the ladies we have worked with today is celebrating their last day in the classroom with Taunton Women’s Work Lab, before exploring work experience opportunities and for some, attending job interviews.
“We know a new top or some super stylish trousers won’t guarantee a job, but we really hope that each of the graduating mums will be able to feel that bit more proud of their achievement and a little more confident when they do step through the door of a possible employer.”
The Women’s Work Lab is a social enterprise and its programmes combine bespoke classroom training with a work placement, 1-to-1 career coaching and mentoring.
Unlike other training, the programme is uniquely designed specifically for mums so they can find work that really works for them and their families.
UK's biggest lottery winners
By Ethan Singh
- Anonymous winner – £195,707,000
A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket.
- Joe and Jess Thwaite – £184,262,899.10
Britain’s previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite.
The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children’s ponies.
Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news.
As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping.
Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children.
- Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000
Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019.
They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck.
But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019 his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m.
He spent the millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported.
Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years.
He left money for their children Carly and Jamie.
- Adrian and Gillian Brayford – £148,600,000
Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million.
But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win.
The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021.
After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge.
She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought.
It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year.
- Frances and Patrick Connolly – £114,969,775
Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot.
They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019.
She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family.
- Richard and Debbie Nuttall – £61,000,000
The couple from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61 million on January 30 2024.
Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.
But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win.
Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account.
Other eye-watering anonymous winners:
- 2019 – £123million
Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover.
- 2021 – £122million
Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April.
The successful participant chose to remain anonymous.
- 2018 – £121million
Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187.