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- Written by: Hans Juergen Strenger
Chris and Colin Weir's £161 Million EuroMillions Win
Over a decade ago, Chris and Colin Weir, a married couple from Largs in Ayrshire, Scotland, saw their lives change unimaginably. In July 2011, they became the lucky winners of Europe’s largest lottery jackpot, claiming an astonishing £161,653,000 in the EuroMillions draw.
The Weirs, who had been married for 30 years, were at home watching TV on a typical Tuesday evening when their world turned upside down. Chris, a former psychiatric nurse, decided to check their EuroMillions tickets just before midnight. They had purchased five Lucky Dips, hoping for a bit of good fortune as the jackpot had rolled over several times. As she circled the numbers on each line, Chris initially felt disappointed. However, on the fifth line, something extraordinary happened—all the circles connected. She had matched every number, but the reality of what she was seeing was hard to believe.
In disbelief, Chris checked the numbers over and over again. Finally convinced, she went downstairs to find Colin, a former TV cameraman and studio manager. Colin knew immediately that something was up by the look on her face. The couple then spent the rest of the night in shock, unable to sleep, watching the dawn of a new life approach. Chris, in a rare moment of celebration, poured herself a glass of white wine—a drink she usually reserved only for Christmas.
The Weirs were officially revealed as the jackpot winners a few days later at a press conference held at the Macdonald Inchyra Hotel in Polmont, near Falkirk. Speaking at the event, Colin described the moment they realized their win as surreal, like a dream in slow motion. However, they viewed their newfound wealth as a positive force, one to be enjoyed with their children, but approached with caution.
Despite their enormous windfall, the Weirs planned to take things slowly, carefully considering how to best use their fortune. Their immediate plans included buying new homes and cars, as well as traveling to destinations like China and Australia. They also wanted to provide for their son and daughter, who were excited about learning to drive.
Their win catapulted the Weirs into the ranks of the UK's wealthiest people, placing them close to celebrities like David and Victoria Beckham on the Sunday Times Rich List. But for Chris and Colin Weir, the true joy of their victory lay not in material wealth but in the endless possibilities it opened up for their family’s future. Give the lottery a shot at Simbalotto.com.