SPLASHING THE CASH
I won £115MILLION in EuroMillions lottery – people say I’m mad for how I choose to spend it but I’m ‘addicted’
Frances reckons the pair have forked out £60million on their 'addiction' since the life-changing win
A LUCKY lotto winner who scooped a £115million EuroMillions jackpot said people call her crazy for how she splashes the cash - but she's "addicted".
Frances and Patrick Connolly, from Moira, Northern Ireland, were gobsmacked when they landed the windfall, but their spending has raised a few eyebrows.
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While most punters would snap up a luxury supercar, or splurge on a new mansion, this couple gave away half their money the night they won.
Frances, 55, didn't hesitate before sharing nearly £58million between 50 friends and family the moment they heard the eye-watering news.
Their generosity has seen many hop onto the property ladder, and others revel in being mortgage free.
The modest pair also agreed on a yearly charity budget, which has increased over the years, and set up two charitable foundations.
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They support young carers, the elderly and refugees in their local community.
Frances also carves out time to wrap 1,000 toiletry presents during the festive period, that she gifts to people who are stuck in hospitals over Christmas.
She reckons the pair have donated £60million since their life-changing win.
"I'm addicted to it now", she said as "it gives you a buzz" helping others.
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"Why wouldn't you? I've done that all my life," Frances added.
"I'd have been a millionaire anyway if I took back all the money I've given away over the years."
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Speaking of how landing such a huge windfall affects you, the winner added: "If you're stupid before you get it, you're going to be stupid afterwards.
"If I had any advice for a winner, I'd say money liberates you to be the person that you want to be."
When Frances and Patrick bagged the jackpot, in January 2019, their win was the fourth biggest in 25 years of the Lottery.
At the time, they said: “We won £114,969,775.70 and we have given away more than half.
“That’s £60million-worth of love. And the thing that makes me even happier is that every single person we gave money to has passed some of it on to other people. I can’t think of a day since winning the Lottery that I haven’t smiled.”
Giving back to locals
AFTER their win the couple set up two charities to help people in Northern Ireland and North East England.
Frances said: “In Ireland, where we both grew up, we formed the Kathleen Graham Trust, in memory of my mother.
“We moved to Hartlepool when I was 21 so I’ve lived most of my adult life here.
“We wanted to give back to the community that welcomed us and gave us so much so we formed The PFC Trust to help local people.”
During lockdown Frances discovered elderly patients at local hospitals did not have fresh nightwear from families due to distancing.
She said: “I spent the evening ordering hundreds of pairs of pyjamas and night- dresses online.”
Among the hundreds of thank you notes she has received is one that just says: “Thank you” from a man whose wheelchair she paid for to be modified.
She said: “I cried for two hours when I read his card.”
Frances added: “I’ve had more joy from changing lives than buying jewellery. I knew from the start that I’d never become part of the jet set.
“Patrick joked for years that if we ever won the Lottery, he’d take away my mobile phone and never let me use the computer again because I’d give away the lot.”
However, the couple have also treated themselves to some expensive purchases.
Patrick has swapped his old Renault Laguna for a new £30,000 Alfa Romeo Giulia.
He also gifted Frances with her dream car - although it came with a much more modest price tag - a £2,000 X-Type Jaguar.
Frances said: “I’ve always loved Jaguars, and I had one for my 40th, which I really loved.
"When I won the Lottery, I thought, ‘I’ll get that car’, but they didn’t make them any more, so I settled for a 2017 Jag.
“Last year, Patrick found the exact same car as the one I used to have, and bought it for me.
“We’ve no need for supercars, and I’m so proud that our daughters also drive second-hand cars. It’s something that does the job, and there’s no need to be flash.”
The couple also live in a £1.9million five-bedroom mansion in the North East that boasts a tennis court and swimming pool.
But Frances claimed all she had her heart set on, was a cosy bungalow.
She said: “I told everybody I was going to buy a bungalow, but we couldn’t find one.
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“The last thing we wanted to do was own a village and act like a lord and lady.
“We just wanted a house for us to live in quietly, with just enough room for the grandchildren and the odd friend to stay. It had to feel like a welcoming home.”
UK's biggest lottery winners
By Ethan Singh
- Anonymous winner - £195,707,000
A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket.
- Joe and Jess Thwaite - £184,262,899.10
Britain's previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite.
The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children's ponies.
Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news.
As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping.
Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children.
- Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000
Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019.
They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck.
But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019 his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m.
He spent the millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported.
Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years.
He left money for their children Carly and Jamie.
- Adrian and Gillian Brayford - £148,600,000
Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million.
But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win.
The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021.
After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge.
She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought.
It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year.
- Frances and Patrick Connolly - £114,969,775
Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot.
They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019.
She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family.
- Richard and Debbie Nuttall - £61,000,000
The couple from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61 million on January 30 2024.
Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.
But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win.
Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account.
Other eye-watering anonymous winners:
- 2019 - £123million
Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover.
- 2021 - £122million
Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April.
The successful participant chose to remain anonymous.
- 2018 - £121million
Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187.
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