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A Simple Error In A Lottery House Almost Prevented The Fulfillment Of A Dream. A Ticket That Would Guarantee A New Life Was Torn In Half And Discarded Like Common Paper, Putting At Risk A Recently Conquered Fortune
In 2018, a mistake almost cost a fortune to a retired couple from the United Kingdom. Fred, 73, and his wife Lesley Higgans, 63, nearly lost the top prize of the EuroMillions, worth £ 57 million, around R$ 400 million, after a retailer accidentally tore the winning ticket in half.
An Error That Almost Cost A Fortune
It all started when Fred went to a local store to check his lottery ticket.
He handed the ticket to a store clerk, who scanned it and said that he hadn’t won.
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Without hesitation, the clerk tore the ticket in half and threw it in the trash, just as he did with all losing tickets.
But at that moment, the terminal printed a receipt alerting that the ticket should be retained and that the lottery operator needed to be contacted.
Realizing the mistake, the retailer quickly retrieved the ticket from the trash and returned it to Fred.
Even though it was torn, the winning numbers were still visible. This allowed Fred to prove that the ticket was the winner of the £ 57 million prize.
New Lifestyle And Plans Outside The United Kingdom
With luck on their side, Fred and Lesley became £ 52,975,367 richer than before. The couple, who have been together for over 40 years, has always dreamed of living abroad.
Fred revealed: “We love life in Malta, where my niece lives. We were thinking about moving there.” But with their new wealth, their plans expanded. “Now I’m also thinking about France, while Lesley is looking at properties in Barbados.”
While they decide on the final destination, the couple bought a Victorian mansion for £ 8 million.
The new residence features six bedrooms, three cottages, a greenhouse, and even a private trout fishing lake.
Frugality Even With Millions In The Bank
Even with all the money, Fred didn’t abandon his habit of bargaining. When buying a BMW Series 6, he managed to negotiate a discount: “It’s hard to shake off the mindset of being economical after so many years,” he said.
The couple also invested £ 5 million in agricultural land.
The land is considered ideal for growing potatoes, peas, grass, and other arable crops.
New Businesses And Charitable Actions
In 2021, Fred and Lesley created the company Red Squirrel Farming Ltd.
In addition, they made donations to environmental and social causes.
They delivered handmade bird boxes to the Miley Wildlife Reserve in Dundee and also founded a charity in the northeast of the country.
Despite the fortune, Fred stated that the win brought some discomfort as well. “Sometimes, you have to be wary of people and pay attention to their intentions,” he commented.
Other Million-Dollar Prizes
The case of Fred and Lesley happened shortly after another couple won a fortune. But these prizes are still small compared to the largest in history.
The largest prize ever paid was US$ 1.586 billion, drawn in the U.S. Powerball on January 13, 2016. Three winning tickets shared the amount.
Another significant prize was US$ 1.537 billion, drawn in the U.S. Mega Millions in 2019. The winner from South Carolina took months to come forward and almost missed the deadline.
Other large prizes include:
US$ 768.4 million for a winner from Wisconsin, also in Powerball.
US$ 758.7 million, won by Mavis L. Wanczyk in Massachusetts in 2017.
US$ 687.8 million shared between winners from Iowa and New York in 2018.
Fred and Lesley almost saw their dream slip away due to a simple mistake.
Fortunately, the torn ticket could be recovered and confirmed as winning.
Today, they live a new phase of life, marked by luxury, caution, and generosity.
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