Thwaites from Gloucester Claim £184 Million EuroMillions Jackpot

Updated: Thursday 19th May 2022

The winners of the record £184 million EuroMillions jackpot have been named as Joe and Jess Thwaite from Gloucester. The husband and wife were presented with their massive cheque during a media event in Cheltenham on Thursday, saying their luck was generally ‘pretty terrible’ before the big win.

They matched all the numbers, 3, 25, 27, 28 and 29, plus Lucky Stars 4 and 9, in a historic draw on Tuesday 10th May. Having contacted the National Lottery straight away and then had their claim validated, they have now completed a whirlwind few days after deciding to embrace the spotlight and not shun publicity.

It was a decision taken with their friends and family in mind, as they felt they would not be able to treat anyone to an amazing holiday without explaining why. Swearing those people to secrecy would then be too much to ask.

A Very Lucky Dip

The winning ticket was a Lucky Dip that Joe, 49, had purchased on the day of the draw. He had to count the digits of the jackpot when he found out the next morning they had won, and his wife did not immediately believe him when he broke the news to her.

While they waited for the win to be confirmed, they continued with their lives as normal. She carried on going to work in the hair salon she runs, while he kept up with his job as a communication sales engineer.

They told family members straight away. Jess, 44, told her sister she had a secret to tell her. Her sister replied by asking ‘Are you pregnant?’ and Jess came back with ‘It’s better than being pregnant’. Her mother, meanwhile, ‘screamed in the car park and burst into tears’. Jess said her mum is an avid lottery follower and knew the jackpot amount, ‘right down to the 10p at the end’.

Plans For The Future

Describing themselves as ‘normal people’ who have just got really lucky, the Thwaites now plan to take some time to think about their future.

They only bought their house two months ago and there is lots of renovation work still to do, so another move could beckon in the near future.

A series of holidays could also be on the cards. The couple have two children and their youngest has always wanted to go to Hawaii.

One decision that Joe has made already is that he will be leaving his job. Jess is not sure about her work yet, but feels it will be a ‘full-time job just managing all of this for quite some time’.

Go to the Winners page to find out about the other big prizes that have been paid out to EuroMillions players in the UK. The Thwaites are now at the very top of the list, but there is always another great jackpot to play for in the next draw. You can play now by taking part online or visiting an authorised retailer.

Published: Thursday 19th May 2022

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