From riches to reality: Lottery winners' unexpected journey

Many dream of winning millions in the lottery, but few realize that a fortune gained this way doesn't always bring happiness. Roger and Lara Griffiths learned this hard lesson. In 2005, the couple discovered they had won a staggering sum in the National Lottery: 1.8 million pounds, over 2.4 million dollars. The joy was indescribable.

The couple became millionaires overnight and immediately began to enjoy their newfound wealth. Roger and Lara traveled, bought luxury goods and accessories, and even dabbled in cosmetic procedures. According to Yahoo!, they spent almost 660,000 dollars on a new home and acquired 30 cars and numerous branded handbags.

Initially, it seemed their lives had changed forever. Lara resigned from her job as a teacher due to concerns about how students and parents would perceive her. She ran a salon bought with part of the winnings, treating it as a hobby and not paying herself a salary for a long time. Unfortunately, problems soon began to appear.

At the end of 2010, a fire in their home was a huge tragedy. The destruction and insufficient insurance forced them to cover the rebuilding costs themselves. Shortly after, Lara found evidence of her husband's infidelity, making the situation worse. In 2013, after 14 years together, the couple decided to divorce. Roger's infidelity and the loss of their fortune influenced this decision. Roger works in a company's recruitment department, and Lara is a full-time tattoo artist. Despite squandering the winnings, Lara does not consider it a life failure.

In an interview with Yahoo!, Lara says people still ask her what it feels like to win the lottery.

It’s not a tangible feeling. Imagine being told you suddenly have two million in the bank. We went on holiday to Dubai and it was lovely, in the first instance, she responds.

However, Lara admits she is tired of media narratives portraying her win as a life failure. She says she didn’t spend the money as foolishly as people think. Although she currently lives in a more modest house with her two daughters and 86-year-old mother, she feels fulfilled.

People kept saying I was stupid, pumped full of plastic surgery, and needed my kids taken away. But the fact is, I spent it wisely - and I had a great time. We didn’t fritter money away, though. We flew economy class, the cars were second-hand, and we got mortgages on all the houses - she explains and adds that, in hindsight, she doesn't think the large sum of money negatively impacted her life:

I fully hold my hands up and accept my mistakes. I’ve spent the last 10 years making sure my children have a nice life regardless of that, and the lottery did not ruin my life.