Builder who won millions is a model lottery winner
By Kate Northrop
A lottery winner who scooped up a whopping £105 million (US$127.9 million) EuroMillions jackpot in 2019 has kept a humble promise three years after the big win.
A West Sussex man has made good on his word over three years after winning over a hundred million pounds in the lottery, never losing sight of his generous goals.
When Steve Thomson, 45, won the massive jackpot in 2019, his immediate focus was not on what he could do for himself, but what he could do for others. The Selsey resident vowed to use the lottery winnings to help friends, family, and the local community.
"It's so much money — I'm going to be generous," Thomson said at the time he won. "I live in a small village. It's a nice village. I don't want to leave the village, so whatever I can do in the community, I will."
And the winner kept his word. One of the first acts of generosity he performed with his wife, Lenka, 44, was donate £200,000 (US$243,674) to various organizations in their hometown. £50,000 (US$60,919) went to Selsey Medical Centre to provide new equipment, which aided locals who previously had to travel miles for appointments. He donated another £50,000 to his son's school.
An avid cricket enthusiast, Thomson then donated £100,000 (US$121,837) to his local cricket club so they could build a new pavilion.
"He's not the kind of guy who wants recognition for doing something good," a local source told The Sun. "When he won the jackpot, he said he would look after friends in the community. He's certainly stuck to his word."
Thomson and his wife also took initiative to set themselves and their family up for success. They invested a chunk of the prize and reportedly put "tens of millions" into a trust for safekeeping.
The winner then turned his attention to his immediate family and bought up a comfortable 7,000 square-foot country estate set on 14.5 acres in Kent for £4.5 million (US$5.48 million). The luxurious property boasts two kitchens, six bedrooms, five reception rooms, a games room, two lakes, a pond, landscaped gardens, a tennis court, swimming pool, a party barn, and stables. They live alongside the likes of Hollywood actors, rock stars, and an IT tycoon.
It's a massive upgrade from their previous home, a three-bed terraced house in Selsey, West Sussex valued at around £150,000 (US$182,756). Now the couple and their three kids have plenty of space.
"The kids finally got their own bedrooms," Thomson said after the purchase. "It's a simple thing, but it was all they ever wished for."
Before moving in, however, Thomson still carried on working to complete outstanding orders for his windows and conservatories business and insisted on performing any work on the new house himself.
"I still haven't got over what happened to us and am honestly still trying to process it still," he had said. "It feels like yesterday we were in our old lives — it will take a little while to adjust. We are very lucky to be in this place, but there's a lot of work that needs doing, so I'll be focusing on that for the time being."
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Now they are great winners doing good. I love the fact that he finished his job commitments and managed construction updates for the new home.
Just giving a few hundred thousand here and there can have a great effect on a community.
I have no doubt they will carry this proactive attitude forward in managing their winnings.
Great update about some refreshingly normal winners.
Sometimes good things actually happen to good people.
I'm sorry but this story is crap and extremely bias. He donated less than 1% of his net worth (not that he's obligated to) and the media is fawning over him? Guy spends an exorbitant amount on a new house for himself and then is painted as such a gentleman meanwhile Edwin Castro does the same and he's painted as a clown despite him being worth 6 times more. There is nothing interesting about this guy and I'm happy for him but give me a break. The implicit bias in how these stories are covered is pretty interesting. I wonder why mhmmm.
They have a lifetime to continue making donations. They won 3 years ago. It takes time to find out where the needs are and donating gradually to make certain the donated money is used wisely. I have no doubt there are other more private donations.
He donated less than 1% of his net worth
There's no telling how much these people or any other lottery winners have donated since most stay under the radar. The article mentions a couple of charitable causes. It does not in any way imply they constitute a complete list.
Edwin Castro does the same and he's painted as a clown
The few comments disparaging his home purchase are not representative of most LP readers.
There is nothing interesting about this guy
No kidding. As most people are pretty boring, it stands to reason most lottery winners will be too. I guess we need some anodyne stories about normal people once in a while to balance out the Kursat Yildirim updates.
Not sure exactly what you mean by "bias". But if you are saying that Kate and Todd seem to report the good things people say about lottery winners such as this guy, then that's not bias, that's just good reporting. Mr. Castro chose to stay under the radar until he purchased an LA mansion. Mr. Thomson is out in the community helping people, Of course, people will have nice things to say about him. That's just part of his story. That is not being "biased," that's just reporting the truth. Something that this website does very well.
Am really not happy how he is spending.l think he be broke in ten years. First and foremost they didn't say he won Tax free lottery so am not sure why he is spending like no tomorrow. Helping your town is a great idea but the problem is you can't cook your soup while you inside the cooking Pot 🍲 .Left to me l would have left town for three years for a fresh start where nobody knows me or think I owe them. My kids will long gone too leaving skid marks lol 😆🤣 will talk to the school later maybe buy them free McDonald's for a day lunch vouchers lol 😆
Dude you did not read the artlcle correctly. It said the guy put a large sum away for the his family. Since it took him 3 years to donate to the community, best believe he has thought everything through before hand.
Thomson and his wife also took initiative to set themselves and their family up for success. They invested a chunk of the prize and reportedly put "tens of millions" into a trust for safekeeping.
You were saying???
That is Exactly my point too. The word Safekeeping. Just like Usain Bolt of Jamaica lost his millions in Safekeeping 😂😆 He was the Fastest Man on the planet only a Woman can steal his money 💵💰 faster.
You do not seem to read info correctly Bolt lost millions due to fraud with a local investment firm. I do not see any info about the investment firm being run by women and it was likely run by men.
l did read the news it was a woman in the firm that stole his money she is asking for sympathy now that she has medical problems lol.
She is the SSL Client Relationship Manager Jean Ann Panton. She said she is too sick now to go to jail 🙄
😆
The fraud had been going on for 10 years so the firm bears the legal responsibility. The firm was not engaging in proper oversight of this employee. The articles also suggest she was not likely the only employee involved. Again, who ran this firm? Jamaica does not have the best reputation for government regulatory oversight in many areas.