My husband is the reason I almost lost entire £200,000 lotto jackpot after he said ‘STOP playing’
A LOTTO winner has revealed how her husband almost lost her the entire £200,000 jackpot after asking her to stop playing.
The relieved partner was happily left red-faced when his wife scooped the whopping amount.
Sally and Jonny, from March, Cambridgeshire, were all set to give up on their dream before raking in the cash.
Mum-of-two Sally revealed that her hubby had pleaded with her to cancel her subscription to the People’s Postcode Lottery two months ago.
Thankfully, though, she ignored his request – just before winning £200,000.
Traffic management operator Jonny said: “I said to her that she should cancel it two months ago, but she never listens to me.
“Now I’m glad she ignored me.
“I would have been crying today.”
You always dream that something like this might happen, but you never think that it will
Jonny
But Sally joked: “I wasn’t going to do what he said anyway.”
She added: “I didn’t think it would be that much.
“You have no idea how much this means to me.
“I had some bubbly in the fridge just in case.”
However, the couple aren’t planning on upping sticks to Dubai or Monte Carlo just because of the big win.
Sally explained that they want to stay in March to be near their family, but hope to go on a “once-in-a-lifetime trip” to Florida with their kids next year.
And there will be a share for their beloved cat Loki whose in for a new scratching tree.
Jonny went on: “I’m speechless.
“She works so hard at the hospital. She deserves this.
“You always dream that something like this might happen, but you never think that it will.”
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.