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The Biggest Lottery Winners in UK History
The biggest lottery win in UK history is an anonymous £195.7 million EuroMillions jackpot from 19 July 2022 — claimed quietly, at the top of the game’s cap, by someone whose name we will never know. Here are the record holders, and the remarkable stories of those who chose to be known.
The UK’s biggest wins
| Prize | Winner | When |
|---|---|---|
| £195.7m | Anonymous | July 2022 |
| £184.2m | Joe & Jess Thwaite, Gloucester | May 2022 |
| £181.0m | Anonymous | March 2026 |
| £177m | Anonymous | December 2024 |
| £170.2m | Anonymous | October 2019 |
| £161m | Colin & Chris Weir, Largs | July 2011 |
| £148.6m | Adrian & Gillian Bayford, Haverhill | August 2012 |
| £115m | Frances & Patrick Connolly | January 2019 |
The ones who went public
The Thwaites held the record for exactly two months in 2022 and faced the cameras with famous understatement. The Weirs, Scotland’s biggest winners, built a charitable trust for small Scottish causes. The Bayfords celebrated £148.6 million by taking the kids for pizza. And the Connollys, who won £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019, may be the most extraordinary of all — Frances Connolly has reported giving away more than £60 million of it, describing helping others as an addiction.
The anonymous majority
Five of the eight biggest wins were claimed anonymously — including the fresh £181 million from March 2026, instantly making its holder wealthier than most pop stars. UK winners have no obligation to go public, and the largest prizes increasingly stay nameless: the bigger the cheque, the stronger the case for silence.
The Lotto game’s own records
EuroMillions owns the giant numbers, but the flagship Lotto has its legends too: a £66 million jackpot split between two tickets in January 2016 — David and Carol Martin of Hawick taking £33 million of it — and Gerry and Lisa Cannings’ £32.5 million solo win a month later. Syndicates have history as well, from Merseyside’s “Magnificent Seven” sharing £45.5 million to twelve Corby bus drivers splitting £38 million.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the biggest lottery winner in the UK?
An anonymous ticket-holder who won £195.7 million on EuroMillions on 19 July 2022 — the UK’s all-time record.
Who are the biggest named winners?
Joe and Jess Thwaite, who went public with their £184.2 million win in May 2022.
Do UK lottery winners have to reveal their names?
No — publicity is entirely the winner’s choice, and most of the biggest wins have been claimed anonymously.
What is the biggest Lotto (not EuroMillions) win?
A £66 million jackpot in January 2016, split between two tickets at £33 million each.
Related guides: the biggest EuroMillions jackpots, the biggest unclaimed prizes and tax on lottery winnings.