Current:Home > NewsEuroMillions lottery winner: I had to cut off 'greedy' family after $187 million jackpot -Insightful Finance Hub
EuroMillions lottery winner: I had to cut off 'greedy' family after $187 million jackpot
View
Date:2025-04-19 03:35:42
The winner of a $187 million EuroMillions lottery jackpot in 2012 said she no longer speaks to her family after giving them $25.3 million.
Gillian Bayford, the Scottish lottery winner of the £148 million EuroMillions jackpot, severed family ties after Bayford said they tried to take advantage of her generosity, according to Mirror UK.
After winning the life-changing prize, she claimed that she immediately started paying off the $884,684 debts that her father and brother owed. However, in 2016, she said that while the money was "supposed to make everyone happy," it had "made them demanding and greedy," she told the Sun this month.
Bayford said her parents were living in a caravan at the time of her win. She gave them money to buy a place in Carnoustie, eastern Scotland, but then her brother Colin asked for more money.
"They [my family] have lost touch with where they've come from," had told The Sun. "They're rubbing people's noses in it by flashing their cash, which I think is downright nasty."
Backstory of the 2012 win
In 2012, Adrian and Gillian Bayford hit the headlines as the winners of a $187 million EuroMillions jackpot. However, after their win, the couple was inundated with requests for money from strangers who had read about their good fortune.
After a year, Bayford made headlines again as she separated from Adrian. They attributed the end of their nine-year marriage to the pressures of their massive lottery win. However, they parted ways on friendly terms and decided to divide the winnings equally.
Bayford met her new partner, Alan Warnock when she and Adrian visited an Audi dealership to buy five luxury cars for herself, her parents, her brother, and his girlfriend, per the DailyMail.
More winners:Michigan man says he'll live debt-free after winning $1 million Mega Millions prize
What's going on with Bayford today?
Despite her generous gift and bailing them out of debt, Bayford revealed this month that she and her family are no longer speaking.
"That was the first thing we paid for," Bayford told the Sun. "Adrian's family had to wait weeks, but my parents and brother were first. They got their cars and houses before anyone."
After lending money to her parents to purchase a new home, Bayford said her brother asked for additional funds to start a playground business. She agreed and gave him $1 million. The brother now lives in a house worth $366,059.52, drives Audi cars with personalized number plates, and even got married. However, he stopped communicating with his sister after receiving the money.
Bayford also told the Mirror UK that her father is attempting to take control of her portion of the inheritance despite her willingly assisting her family with their financial problems. The conflict arose due to an article in the Sun newspaper in which Bayford spoke about her winnings, which caused embarrassment to her parents.
"I can hold my head up because I know I've taken them out of a situation," Bayford told The Sun. "They brought our name into disrespect in the village, and we had people threatening to torch the family house. My dad and brother built up one company after another and then closed them down. I've bailed them out of every debt."
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets in the U.S. can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- The Lion King on Broadway Star Clifton Oliver Dead at 47
- Millions of older workers are nearing retirement with nothing saved
- Police shoot and kill a man in Boise, Idaho who they say called for help, then charged at officers
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Brazilian president’s former lawyer takes seat as Supreme Court justice
- Incandescent light bulbs are now banned in the United States—here's what to buy instead
- When does 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 3 come out? Release date, cast, trailer
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- Lawyer for Bryan Kohberger says he was driving alone night of murders
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- U.S. orders departure of non-emergency government personnel from Niger
- Keith Urban, Kix Brooks, more to be inducted into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
- Ciara Teams up With Gap and LoveShackFancy on a Limited-Edition Collection for Every Generation
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- 'Cash over country': Navy sailors arrested, accused of passing US military info to China
- US economy likely generated 200,000 new jobs in July, showing more resilience in face of rate hikes
- Lawyer for ex-NYPD commissioner Bernard Kerik says special counsel may not have reviewed records before indicting Trump
Recommendation
Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
A feud between a patriarch and a militia leader adds to the woes of Iraqi Christians
Proof Dream Kardashian and Tatum Thompson Already Have a Close Bond Like Rob and Khloe Kardashian
Milwaukee prosecutors charge 14-year-old with fatally shooting fourth-grader
Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
After disabled 6-year-old dies on the way to school, parents speak out about safety
Actor Mark Margolis, drug kingpin on 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul,' dies
Taylor Swift gave $100,000 bonuses to about 50 truck drivers who worked on Eras Tour