One lottery winner’s spending habit ended up costing them 38 million in just eight years, and what he spent it on is questionable.
Winning the lottery is about as rare as...well, winning the lottery. However, if you do win, you’ve probably already got a plan mapped out of what you’d spend your money on.
Whether it’s a small island, a mansion, or just spending your time as a nomad and travelling around the world, a lottery prize can be life-changing.
For Colin Weir, it certainly was.
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In 2011, Weir and his wife Christine, were the lucky winners of the EuroMillions jackpot prize worth £161 million.
That’s one of the biggest wins ever recorded, and at the time, it was the second-biggest jackpot to have been paid out.
While some might keep their spending modest, or invest, Weir managed to speed through nearly £40 million before he died in 2019, less than a year after he and his wife divorced.
The man, who was from Largs in North Ayrshire, formerly worked at the Scottish broadcaster STV before the lottery changed his life.
According to bank statements after his death, Weir had used his money to satisfy a lot of dreams that many people out there have.
This habit cost him around £100,000 every week, as he splurged on luxury cars, holidays, houses, paying off debts, helping out friends and family, or making donations to charity.
He also allegedly bought 55 per cent of Partick Thistle Football Club before his death, in a bid to give it back to the community, per IGV.
He then bought three thoroughbred racehorses, including an Irish mare called If You Say Run, and two geldings, Knighted and Felony, reported The Independent.
As for his charitable donations, Weir set up the Weir Charitable Trust, which ‘aims to support Scottish-based community groups and small charities to provide services across Scotland to help the Scottish community,’ according to its website.
Per The Sun, the pair gave £800,000 to Largs Thistle and sponsored tennis prospect Ross Wilson with £50,000 to train at the academy Andy Murray attended.
In 2012, they also paid for 13-year-old Kieran Maxwell’s prosthetic leg after hearing about the family trying to raise funds.
The outlet noted Weir commenting at the time: “When we heard about Kieran and his family’s fantastic efforts to raise money for a new prosthetic leg, we had to help. It is a privilege to support him.”
As well as art, furniture and jewellery, Weir allegedly made a fair few donations to the SNP and its Scottish Independence Campaign, leading to Scotland’s First Minister at the time, Nicola Sturgeon to pay tribute after his death.
The National reported her as saying: “Colin’s determination and generosity in the cause of Scottish independence cannot be overstated and was hugely appreciated.
“The SNP and the independence movement has lost a true friend today and we will miss him dearly.”
Topics: Euromillions, Money, UK News, Charity
Britt Jones