If you won the lottery, would you go public?

[Slowpoke]

Dave and Angela Dawes are the lucky winners of £101,203,600.70 in this weeks EuroMillions, and the dream has yet to begin! Colin and Chris Weir's dreams came true when they won a massive £161,653,000.00 back in July! However, just a few short weeks later they apparently had to flee the UK due to sheer number of people begging them for money - doesn't sound like the best of circumstances to me!

A documentary recently aired (on Channel 4 I think it was) which told the story of several UK lottery winners who went public with their scoop, only to regret it massively later after being snubbed by friends and family, threatened by criminals and gangs and hassled for money by various strangers until the cows came home.

So, my question is, if you won the lottery, would you go public? :)

[beth]

oh i watched that documentary hahaha, i don't think i would purposely go public but i'm not stupid enough to think it wouldn't come out, even if i only tell my family. people like to share good news.

[DPS]

I couldnt go public as people do tend to beg when you do, i'd also be scared for my life and my family, incase someone tryed to kidnapp me or even them.
I'd give money to charity well only RichardHouseHospice as my nephew goes there and there so good.

But im sure someone i know inrl would sell a story about me winning if i had won, so yeah id still not go public.

[Mathew]

Yeah I probably would go public. To be fair, I'd be buying a house in Florida with the winnings and getting out of the country anyway, so there's no need to "flee"... :P

[Sharon]

no... you become a TARGET to everybody. people are licking you as far as even possible, charities targetting you like 24/7 and more plus i'd be scared to even go out in public.

[AgnesIO]

I don't think I would go public straight away, but only to keep my family and close friends safe. If it obvious that if you have vast amounts of money people may try kidnapping members of your family to get money out of you - that to me is a huge risk.

If I did come out/it did come out I would ignore any begging letters, however would be straight off to a school in Namibia to help make their school as good as possible. I would also be out of the country permanently before long.

[Stephen]

Nope and I think any people that do go public deserve what they get because the chances are they are gonna regret doing it :L

[Zuth]

I wouldn't go public, because i wouldn't want people begging me etc

[Slowpoke]

Nope and I think any people that do go public deserve what they get because the chances are they are gonna regret doing it :L


I wouldn't go public, because i wouldn't want people begging me etc

Note that, by doing this, even telling close family would be a risk (ie cousins, aunties, uncles).

Winning the lottery is a lot more complicated than it seems in my opinion. Yes, winning a vast amount of money would be amazing and no doubt most of us would be off to some exotic country to start a wonderful new life. But it's likely you'd have to sever ties many of your family and friends (easy for few) else the word would get out and the media would get their grubby paws on your story. And lord, they love to ruin loves (and don't we know it)

[Rozi]

deffo wouldn't go public
I would tell my friends that I'd won
but I wouldn't tell them how much
I'd just take them all on holiday

[Jin]

Even if I won 5 times in 5 consecutive weeks I would stay anonymous. Money does change people and I don't think that applies to just those who have come into money. Even my sharing of the wealth would have to be anonymous, so anonymous donations to charity etc.

I don't think I would even tell my close family, I would probably still have to have a job.

[Slowpoke]

I don't think I would even tell my close family, I would probably still have to have a job.

I do agree with you here but my initial thoughts were that I'd probably tell my mother and that's it. But then I start thinking, I would love to share the wealth with the rest of my family (ie cousins, grandparents etc). Friends not so much, because as soon as you give one friend something, the other would want and it'd be a never ending list. If you were wanting to stay anonymous, you'd have to move away as people would obviously notice your flashy new car, house, clothes and extensive holidays. Not all so black and white, is it?

[Rozi]

I do agree with you here but my initial thoughts were that I'd probably tell my mother and that's it. But then I start thinking, I would love to share the wealth with the rest of my family (ie cousins, grandparents etc). Friends not so much, because as soon as you give one friend something, the other would want and it'd be a never ending list. If you were wanting to stay anonymous, you'd have to move away as people would obviously notice your flashy new car, house, clothes and extensive holidays. Not all so black and white, is it?

thankfully for me I have a close knit group of friends who I all trust 100% and a small, caring family. Even though I would say it was only a medium amount - enough to buy a nice house and car and have a bit of spare cash floating around. I can't even imagine how someone would spend 100mil

[Jin]

I do agree with you here but my initial thoughts were that I'd probably tell my mother and that's it. But then I start thinking, I would love to share the wealth with the rest of my family (ie cousins, grandparents etc). Friends not so much, because as soon as you give one friend something, the other would want and it'd be a never ending list. If you were wanting to stay anonymous, you'd have to move away as people would obviously notice your flashy new car, house, clothes and extensive holidays. Not all so black and white, is it?

I wouldn't even tell my parents, I would pay off their remainder on their mortgage and then explain to them how I have a new job that pays well to explain my lavish things. I am also not one to overdo something, so I wouldn't buy a mansion when I know a 3 bedroom detached would do me comfortably. I think that would help me stay anonymous.

[Red]

I wouldn't like it to get it out and the idea of people friending you for your money/ people begging is really off putting but I would have to share it with my family so no doubt it would be hard to keep it hidden forever.

[Circadia]

I wouldn't spend time on trying to become public as it would eventually come out anyway, plus people will always try and suck up to you if you tell them haha!

[Jordan]

I probably will, and I would give a lot to charities because I wouldn't spend that amount of money in my life. Help out the family and give a bit to my friends then live abroad!!

[Casio]

I would say no, but when your in that situation, all your thinking is, $$$ instead of thinking about what will happen.

[Slowpoke]

so I wouldn't buy a mansion when I know a 3 bedroom detached would do me comfortably

Hit the nail on the head. I doubt know about anyone else, but the idea of owing a huge 10 bedroom mansion doesn't appeal to me at all. I would have a lovely 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom detatched house with an indoor swimming pool built for me. I can see it all now, so amazing! :D I would also probably buy myself a nice holiday villa somewhere in Spain or Cyprus. :D I'd also be careful with my money, I'd love to be able to save loads 'til the end of my life in hopes of passing it down to family and then pass it down and so on. As I'm sure everyone knows, a lot of money in the bank means ridiculous interest is earned everyday! The couple who won £161mil will be earning about £13,400 a DAY in interest! How remarkable is that?!

[Casanova]

I wouldn't go public but I think it would be obvious :P?
I'm a gay guy with no intention of creating a legacy - ie to have children? So If I was to win any money I'd have it spent about put the rest in trust funds for my nephews (and any other nieces and nephews to come!).

I don't see the point in people whom live frugally to die with money in the bank - I'd like to be left some but I'll be honest, if someone was to ask me what to do with their money I'd say spend it!

To win the lottery by like, £50mil I'd ensure all of my family had a brand new house, car and a reasonable amount to live very well. And all my workmates, I'd want them to have a good few holidays on my money. They put up with so much torture having me eight hours a day, dear god I'm the biggest drama queen ever.

[Zuth]

Note that, by doing this, even telling close family would be a risk (ie cousins, aunties, uncles).

Winning the lottery is a lot more complicated than it seems in my opinion. Yes, winning a vast amount of money would be amazing and no doubt most of us would be off to some exotic country to start a wonderful new life. But it's likely you'd have to sever ties many of your family and friends (easy for few) else the word would get out and the media would get their grubby paws on your story. And lord, they love to ruin loves (and don't we know it)

Yeah, my Dads always said, if he won the lottery then he would sort out the family, pay off mortgages, buy new cars etc, then move away or to a nice big house. We wouldnt tell know one, public, press etc, but if they find out, they find out.

[Jordan:A]

I'd try not to go public but if they founds out, they found out..

[scottish]

I wouldn't tell anyone and leave it in the bank

[Zuth]

If you left the amount of money in the bank what these won, you'd have about £9,000 interest a day

[scottish]

I get 0% interest so :p

[Oleh]

No, I'd incognito split £1,000,000 between all my close friends and relatives. Then give £10,000,000 to a solicitor to sort out investments. Then put £89,500,000 in a decent bank. Keep the rest accessible to buy a decent flat (in penryn) and all the fancies.

[AgnesIO]

I get 0% interest so :p

If you walked in to each bank in England they would probably rape you if you went to them.

[scottish]

I wouldnt like randomly give out 1mil and stuff

I'd give family/friends gifts but wouldn't tell them I won the lottery

[Jin]

Well interest applied is a bit more complex then the way it is expressed in this thread. Either way if you won a Euro Millions lottery jackpot it is highly unlikely you would even need to consider living off interest earned.

One thing we have failed to acknowledge in this thread is the win amount, if I won the national lottery then I wouldn't mind so much if I was public or not, I reckon I could spend about a million instantly in the first 3 days on various mortgages.

Euro millions however I think I would spend a considerable amount to ensure I remain anonymous.

[Inseriousity.]

I'd remain anonymous. Are the media allowed to tell people if you wish to remain anonymous? I know that sounds stupid but surely there must be lots of anonymous winners and I've never seen any exposés of them in the papers so I always thought that even if they knew, they couldn't (or maybe I'm being cynical and it's actually "wouldn't") tell the story. Of course people in the general area would know and you'd perhaps have to move somewhere else but without media coverage, you'd be able to stay fairly anonymous, I imagine.

[Mathew]

I'd remain anonymous. Are the media allowed to tell people if you wish to remain anonymous? I know that sounds stupid but surely there must be lots of anonymous winners and I've never seen any exposés of them in the papers so I always thought that even if they knew, they couldn't (or maybe I'm being cynical and it's actually "wouldn't") tell the story. Of course people in the general area would know and you'd perhaps have to move somewhere else but without media coverage, you'd be able to stay fairly anonymous, I imagine.
This is something I'm quite curious about too. When I did work experience at two different newspapers earlier in the year, I was pretty much told that they have to be brutally careful about the stuff they publish. Obviously things such as court cases must be closely monitored as it may interfere with the jury's decision, but I do wonder where the line is actually drawn. They told me that they need to get consent for whatever is published: they don't say names unless the nod is given and they don't go publishing just "stuff they hear on the streets or in the back room of the court house".

Strangely enough though, this was a lot different to the type of stuff you read in the national tabloids. When NOTW was involved in the phone hacking, no consent was given by the individuals concerned... so how could they publish it?

Anyone know? :P

[@K]

Simple, no. I'd just bugger off to the States.

[Martin]

Would never go public, would only tell the people closest to me and stuff. Would make sure my family and friends had some though ofc. Would most likely move to a different area anyway.

[Jin]

I don't think the media cares enough to chase after the identity of anonymous winners. I mean can you imagine that headline, "Lottery winner from 3 weeks ago well is Mr Joe Bloggs" it's hardly news.

[Slowpoke]

Yeah, but I imagine they'd publish a story about the massive EuroMillions winners as that would be quite a story. Someone who wins a couple of million isn't really a story

[Kahpow]

tbh, I would try to keep it a secret from even my family. Money changes people.

[GoldenMerc]

I'd tell close family and thats it.

[Eric]

I wouldn't go public. But i'll tell my family about it :L

[AgnesIO]

I wouldn't go public. But i'll tell my family about it :L

Watch everyone fine out :P

[-:Undertaker:-]

I'd live off the interest.

[Jin]

Just for my reference, everyone who has said they would live of the interest could you please tell me what sort of savings plan you would use to do this?

[AgnesIO]

Just for my reference, everyone who has said they would live of the interest could you please tell me what sort of savings plan you would use to do this?

Pretty sure a few years back people would have earnt 14k a day interest off a £70m win, so technically you could live off the interest.

[Lee]

Interesting thread, I'd not go public, but would take the risk of sharing money and info with specified family and friends. Wouldn't put up with the begging, and would make the most out of it!

[Jin]

Pretty sure a few years back people would have earnt 14k a day interest off a £70m win, so technically you could live off the interest.

That may be so but depositing that amount of cash would incur so many taxes and charges that your overall capital would drop significantly and would take years to grow back into the original amount.

You can't just dump millions of pounds into a savings accounts and live off the interest it isn't at all as simple as that otherwise every multimillionaire would do just that as it would be risk free and guarantee growth.

I would have to hire the services of the best financial advisor I could find to decide how to deal with my new found liquid asset and to ensure real growth they would likely point in the direction of investments.

[GommeInc]

Personally, no, but it's inevitable the truth will come out. Unless you snub your friends, family and your community, you're stuck with a huge problem, even if you move away people will eventually find out in the new area you've moved to, through new friends or hear-say. If I won the lottery (I wish :P), it would be inevitable it'll come out in the place I live, everyone here seems to know my family but that's my nan and her standing in the community :P

Plus I'd probably do something to make it obvious, like offer to help someone out as I really do not think I could hog all that money and not help out people in need, like friends, family or acquaintances. Going public makes the country aware, while keeping it private makes your local community aware. So out of those two evils, I'll take the lesser and just wait for people to figure it out in my local area, and just hope no-one sells a story to the newspapers.


Just for my reference, everyone who has said they would live of the interest could you please tell me what sort of savings plan you would use to do this?
This Morning did an interesting bit of research into saving plans in the UK where you can live off some amount of interest. Some banks offer a 3% interest on what is in the bank so presumably there is a bank in the UK that offers such an account. I think HSBC or Santander are the banks you go for when you want to create a savings account. Then again, any savings account will be good for £101 million - NatWest have an e-ISA which sends any interest made to your main account e.g. Current Account, which is 1% a month so £101,000 a month which is pretty decent (or it was p/a, never looked into it too far as 1% is useless).

But as you said in your last reply (just seen it), you could afford to hire a financial advisor and see what are the best options. I think there are news reports going around about how tax havens are becoming a thing of the past, so millionaires will soon be feeling the pinch - which makes sense given the current economic climate - banks and Governments in other countries who are feeling the pinch will start targetting the sections that make them popular. I think Switzerland is one country that's slowly losing it's tax haven status.

[Jin]

This Morning did an interesting bit of research into saving plans in the UK where you can live off some amount of interest. Some banks offer a 3% interest on what is in the bank so presumably there is a bank in the UK that offers such an account. I think HSBC or Santander are the banks you go for when you want to create a savings account. Then again, any savings account will be good for £101 million - NatWest have an e-ISA which sends any interest made to your main account e.g. Current Account, which is 1% a month so £101,000 a month which is pretty decent (or it was p/a, never looked into it too far as 1% is useless). Most banks allow interest from ISA's to be payable straight into a current account however every ISA has a limitation on what can be paid into it before capital gains tax and tax on the interest is applied. I think you can only deposit £5,400 per tax year in any ISA before you start to incur fees and taxes and to prevent people using an ISA as a current account your cumulative deposits is what counts as your investment. So if you put in £3000 and then withdraw £1000 then your total investment for the tax year still remains at £3000 but you will only earn interest on the £2000 left in the account. Whilst there may not be an upper limit I think it would take about 20 years of investing £5400 @ 3% interest before you could have enough money to live off the interest.

[COCOCAT]

no way! you couldnt trust any new strangers then! or old aquantices. youll never know who is genuine and who is not.
i dont put the lottery on because ive seen it destroy a family.
it can really screw someone up, being average one day then rolling in millions the next, suddenly nothing is satisfying, they need several women, illicit substances.....houses, boats, cars then when the money starts to run out they freak out and cant handle living like a normal average joe and go do something crazy like rob a bank
im not saying all do..but alot of people cant handle.."the curse of the lottery"
i dont think id be able to handle winning millions, itd change a person

a couple 100k is alright, but millions or billions..not too sure about

[scottish]

no way! you couldnt trust any new strangers then! or old aquantices. youll never know who is genuine and who is not.
i dont put the lottery on because ive seen it destroy a family.
it can really screw someone up, being average one day then rolling in millions the next, suddenly nothing is satisfying, they need several women, illicit substances.....houses, boats, cars then when the money starts to run out they freak out and cant handle living like a normal average joe and go do something crazy like rob a bank
im not saying all do..but alot of people cant handle.."the curse of the lottery"
i dont think id be able to handle winning millions, itd change a person

a couple 100k is alright, but millions or billions..not too sure about

http://www.myfacewhen.net/uploads/954-not-sure-if-serious.jpg

Not everyone who has millions does drugs, sleeps with several woman, find nothing satisfying, etc.............................................

[Fire-Fox]

You have to show up for a picture to win your money where I live, and I wouldn't trust anyone I know to claim the money and take the heat for me. Better to just suck it up and deal with the new reality.

[Narnat,]

I would make sure my family was looked after and then just use it for what I needed.

[MKR&*42]

I probably would... not.

I wouldn't be able to handle all the begging at stuff, and tbqh. I probably wouldn't use a lot of the money myself - I don't dream about owning a mansion or a 500ft swimming pool or having a multi-million pound business, I'd rather have a peaceful life :)

I'd prob. give a lot of the money to charities > probably animal charities.

and yeah, what that person said about drugs etc.... Not every person does that? :L I'm pretty sure 'Lord' Alan Sugar doesn't go around having sex with prostitutes and taking LSD does he? :L

[AgnesIO]

I'm pretty sure 'Lord' Alan Sugar doesn't go around having sex with prostitutes and taking LSD does he? :L

I just got some hilarious images in to my head..

[GirlNextDoor15]

I will tell my family only. Not even my friends cause they'll annoy me for the rest of ma life

[xdinosaurdaniel]

I wouldn't go public. After watching lottery ticket and what not makes me think something kind of like that would happen to me.

[Andeeh]

I dont know, but if I did and people wanted money they would have to earn it.

[john313]

I wouldn't go public because everyone would always be one you and asking about it. it would get to annoying and people would try to rob you!

[Vinnie:Safety]

Id start my own enterprise like a restaurant or something like that. Makesure my family is set for life with decent homes.

[lTraditional]

Not really, the council would be raising my taxes if I did! Besides, exposing my riches will attract the buglers.

[Samantha]

I would tell my family, my Mother would tell my Aunties and Uncles etc.

However, I would tell my boyfriend mainly, I would probably give some to him too, maybe enough to settle him down for life instead of struggling to get a job that way he could still have a job on the side if he wished.

Also, with my boyfriend, his Grandad owns part of Tesco and gets a lot each month from that so it's not like he would treat me any differently etc.

[AgnesIO]

I would tell my family, my Mother would tell my Aunties and Uncles etc.

However, I would tell my boyfriend mainly, I would probably give some to him too, maybe enough to settle him down for life instead of struggling to get a job that way he could still have a job on the side if he wished.

Also, with my boyfriend, his Grandad owns part of Tesco and gets a lot each month from that so it's not like he would treat me any differently etc.

A couple of million to your boyfriend, even though you are only 17/18? You would be mad to do that :K

[wiktoria]

I wouldn't go public. I wouldn't want anything happening to me or my family and friends.

[Catzsy]

I would not go public either. It would be so much hassle and you would get so many 'friends' that weren't friends.
Donations to charity could be made anonymously etc etc.

[Chris]

I think I would tell family, but I wouldn't tell anyone else as I wouldn't want to get mobbed. :P

[scottish]

I wouldn't go public. I wouldn't want anything happening to me or my family and friends.

You'd stick it all on paypal and start buying thrones anyways...

Edited by Jordan (Forum Moderator): Please do not post pointlessly

[Alkaz]

No I wouldn't. As others have said, I've seen how it's affected some people and at the end of the day it would be my money so I would want to tell exactly who ever I wanted to tell about my win.

[wiktoria]

You'd stick it all on paypal and start buying thrones anyways...

LMAO...............i wouldn't shut up.

I'd just tell my family, probably not even my friends.

[scottish]

LMAO...............i wouldn't shut up.

I'd just tell my family, probably not even my friends.

Whats friends is there to tell other than habbo ones?

Edited by Jordan (Forum Moderator): Please do not post pointlessly

[Maatt.]

I would not be going public.. because I probably wouldn't trust quite a few people. People would know.. but i would never dish it out to the news papers etc.. its none of der business! well.. it shouldnt be.

[blueadrian13]

No. Never. Snatchers might hear about it and try to invade my house just to get my moolah.

[AgnesIO]

No. Never. Snatchers might hear about it and try to invade my house just to get my moolah.

"Snatchers"? Aren't they those people out of Harry Potter?

But obviously, if you went public thieves etc WOULD hear about it - there would be no might about it haha

[T@R]

apparently that scottish couple who won the 160m odd didn't even want to go public, they just got grassed on
i wouldn't tell anyone
i'd leave anonymous donations to my family members and keep the rest to myself

[AgnesIO]

apparently that scottish couple who won the 160m odd didn't even want to go public, they just got grassed on
i wouldn't tell anyone
i'd leave anonymous donations to my family members and keep the rest to myself

They must have told someone, then!

[T@R]

They must have told someone, then!
yeah i think i read that their neighbours found out either by being told or eavesdropping or noticing all the luxuries coming in... and sold it to the high brow paper that is the sun...

[AgnesIO]

yeah i think i read that their neighbours found out either by being told or eavesdropping or noticing all the luxuries coming in... and sold it to the high brow paper that is the sun...

Hmm - their own fault really, if you win that amount it generally will come out unless you move a fair way away.

There was some pictures of them with the giant cheque and champagne though, wasn't there? If so, what did they expect?!

[T@R]

Hmm - their own fault really, if you win that amount it generally will come out unless you move a fair way away.

There was some pictures of them with the giant cheque and champagne though, wasn't there? If so, what did they expect?!

i think once it came out they thought **** it let's go along with it

[GommeInc]

It's inevitable you're going to be revealed as millionaires. If you move away questions will be asked about why and before you actually move (it can take ages rich or not) you're bound to be seen spending or acting suspiciously, everyone has neighbours. Heck, just talking to secret millionaires will make you suspicious. If you have no friends or family, and live in the hills, you may stand a chance of not being found out.

[Narnat,]

I think it would make you more of a target.

[AgnesIO]

it would make you more of a target.

Fixed.

[Metric1]

we didn't even win the lottery yet we get the occasional letter from somebody with a sob story asking for money. we never give them money, but it shows you don't have to be a lottery winner to be hounded for money..

[AgnesIO]

we didn't even win the lottery yet we get the occasional letter from somebody with a sob story asking for money. we never give them money, but it shows you don't have to be a lottery winner to be hounded for money..

I swear you get richer every week lol

It doesn't take a genius to work out your comment, just imagine people with serious money.

[Ajthedragon]

I'd invest it in something like this:

http://www.santapod.co.uk/images/flame10photos/4486ft10dj.jpg

And I wouldn't go public.

[Mr-Trainor]

No, I wouldn't go public.

[Tigerassassino]

yes i would