A retired teacher from Birmingham has transformed her life after winning over £3.6 million on a £2 EuroMillions lucky dip. Celeste Coles, a regular Lotto player, had initially received an invitation to join a syndicate ahead of the July 12, 2022 draw but decided to play solo instead. She said, “I thought, ‘I’m not going to join a syndicate, I want to win it all for myself’, so I bought one online.”
Within hours, the modest ticket purchase turned into a life-changing £3,665,079.10 when she matched five main numbers and one Lucky Star. Celeste, a mother of two who previously won £2,500 on the National Lottery during the 1990s, recalls the moment she realised her win fondly. “I’m usually on the ball. I always write my numbers down so I don’t have to check the app. Around 11pm, I started checking and once I saw five numbers matched, I thought I had won something. Then I saw one Lucky Star, and that was it.”
Despite the excitement, she chose a glass of water over champagne. “Some family wondered why I didn’t grab a glass of wine, but water was the quickest thing I could find,” she explained. The official claim line opened at 8am the next day, but Celeste waited until 8.30am to call, not wanting to appear too eager. After verification, the prize money was deposited into her account within 10 days.
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Celeste noted the responsibilities that come with such a win, including consulting financial advisors, lawyers, accountants, and HMRC to ensure her money’s security. “It’s quite intense. You can’t just leave it all in a current account,” she said.
Originally from Barbados, Celeste has since treated herself to an iPhone 13 mini at the Apple Store in Birmingham and enjoyed lunch with her daughter. She has purchased a new apartment in Spain and moved to a larger home in Kings Norton. After her car began experiencing issues, she replaced it, and she looks forward to an upcoming trip to the Rocky Mountains.
Having taught home economics across Birmingham and Solihull, Celeste values the opportunity her win has given her to provide financial security for her family. Although public about her success, she has not encountered requests for money and has maintained a modest lifestyle. “People ask why I still shop at charity shops. Why not? There’s no need to be frivolous,” she said.
Birmingham has produced 234 National Lottery millionaires since 1994, with the city topping the list for the ‘luckiest places in the UK’. Twenty-seven of these winners have come in the past three years alone. Celeste emphasises the importance of optimism and participation: “It’s not automatic, you have to be in it to win it and believe you will win.”
Looking ahead, Celeste has not ruled out another win, despite feeling she does not need more money. “If I won again, I would be happy to donate it to charities and my family,” she said, continuing to play regularly.