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UK winner of EuroMillions scoops £177m jackpot

Getty Images EuroMillions lottery ticketGetty Images

A UK ticket-holder has won the £177m EuroMillions jackpot, scooping the third biggest prize ever seen in the country.

The winning numbers were 7, 11, 25, 31, 40 with lucky stars 9 and 12.

Andy Carter, senior winners' adviser for lottery operator Allwyn, called it a "wonderful win right before Christmas" - and urged players to check their tickets.

If the winner is an individual - rather than a syndicate splitting the prize - he or she will immediately become richer than musicians Harry Styles and Adele who featured on this year's Sunday Times Rich List with fortunes of £175m and £170m respectively.

The winner can decide whether to go public or request strict anonymity once their ticket has been validated and paid.

The biggest National Lottery win of all time, £195 million, was netted by an anonymous UK ticket-holder on 19 July 2022.

On 10 May 2022, Joe and Jess Thwaite from Gloucester won a then record-breaking £184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket.

How do you handle a massive windfall?

The dilemma of what to do with a huge lottery win is the stuff of dreams for most people.

But those lucky enough to have a huge win should plan for the future as well as readjusting to day-to-day life on their new, turbo-charged income.

Here are some top tips from finance experts:

  • Becky O'Connor, head of pensions and savings at interactive investor, said legal support, independent financial advice and an excellent accountant are key
  • Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest, suggested one way to celebrate without blowing too large a sum could be to have a "millionaire experience...whether that's taking a luxury trip, going out for a mega-expensive meal or buying a fancy car"
  • Ian Pickford, partner and head of financial planning at audit and tax firm Forvis Mazars, said: "If managed correctly [a big windfall] can offer numerous generations a lifetime of financial security, but it can also cause family rifts and money troubles down the line. It's imperative that people seek the advice of experts and put a long-lasting plan in place"
  • Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, advised those suddenly coming into a fortune "not to rush to act" and create a financial plan.