Winning the jackpot doesn't necessarily mean retirement
By Kate Northrop
A 20-year-old has no plans to quit working after securing a £7.5 million (US$9.1 million) Lotto jackpot.
Although he has already booked a luxury vacation, one U.K. lottery winner doesn't plan on taking permanent time off after coming into a £7.5 million Lotto win.
James Clarkson, 20, of Carlisle, is no stranger to playing the lottery. Just a month ago, he scooped a £120 (US$146) prize in the special Lotto Christmas Day Draw. He put some of the winnings toward a future lottery purchase — five plays for the first Lotto draw of 2025. Two lines were Lucky Dips (Quick Picks), and the other three were numbers he randomly chose himself.
The day after the drawing, one of those lines with self-chosen numbers was about to make his head spin.
"I was at my girlfriend's house and got up early to check on the snowfall when I saw a message saying I'd won on the National Lottery app," Clarkson told the National Lottery. "I opened it straight away but couldn't see anything to begin with; then I scrolled down and saw I'd matched all six main Lotto numbers to hit the jackpot and that my prize amount was £7,533,329! I just didn't believe it! I thought I was dreaming!"
Clarkson immediately woke up his girlfriend to show her the message, after which he was met with a "sleepy look."
"No, you haven't won," she replied, according to a press release. She rolled over and went back to sleep.
Then Clarkson called his father, who told him to come home so they could look at the message together.
Clarkson, his mother, father, and 24-year-old brother, Thomas, gathered in his parents' bedroom and sat on the bed to wait for the National Lottery phone line to open at 9:00 a.m.
"We called dead on nine and chatted through the ticket details and who I was," Clarkson recalled. "They confirmed mine was the winning ticket. I think I just started laughing. I thought, 'This is mad!'"
Clarkson's ticket for the Jan. 4, 2025 Lotto drawing had indeed matched all six numbers to win the £7,533,329 jackpot: 16, 19, 22, 24, 27, and 35. The Bonus number was 28.
But there were others who still didn't know about the win, so he made a point to share the good news with more of his family.
"I spent the rest of the day visiting my family and girlfriend who all live close by, all of us talking about the win," Clarkson continued. "I have a big family, and we are all close. News spread fast, and we all ended up celebrating later at my Grandma's and Grandad's with a roast beef dinner and champagne!"
By the time the Lottery announced his win on Thursday, Clarkson had already booked an all-inclusive luxury vacation to Cape Verde. He's also shelled out some cash for a few designer items, such as a Gucci bag for his girlfriend and two new jackets for himself.
However, he was right back at work the following Monday morning with his father, Stephen, 47.
"I was out in the cold fixing blocked drains the day after I found out I had won," the winner said. "I'm not going to stop working. I want to qualify as a heating engineer and then go from there."
It's not just a lavish vacation he's looking forward to — he can't wait to make more cherished memories as well. Clarkson is a huge Manchester City fan thanks to his father, who took him to his first game when he was three years old. Now, he can attend many more matches and is planning on buying season tickets for himself and his family.
At the end of the day, Clarkson has neither forgotten the significance of pursuing his career, nor is he oblivious to focusing on the necessities. His top priority, he told the Lottery, is helping his family and paying off his parents' mortgage.
"We are close, and they have always been there for me," he said. "This win isn't just for me. I want to make sure we all benefit."
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Thanks to hearsetrax for the tip.
First things first - congrats 🎉 on the win.
Now that is out of the way.
Don't want to be the one that spoils the party, or even the one that says "I told you so" but at this rate Mate will be broke faster than one can say "Cape Verde"
"By the time the Lottery announced his win on Thursday, Clarkson had already booked an all-inclusive luxury vacation to Cape Verde"
Having a big family is awesome, but when you are the dude with the money, that big family will drain you ASAP.
I hope Mate makes some wise financial decisions with his win, besides the luxury trip and designer stuff.
Wishing him all the best 🙏
What? Sounds like modest spending to me and he is continuing his career. Anyone who likes Gucci is ok with me. Gucci is not Birkin (over-rated) and you can get a nice bag for 1500 to 3500 and it is less than what we pay in the US.
Let's just say he didn't want to stay anonymous like most prefer to do. The large family is going to be an issue for him for sure. Who do you leave out. Some resentment is bound to occur unless he keeps doling out cash to them. Gee James, my cable just got shut off. Can you take care of that for me. I will pay you back next month. Oh James, my transmission just went. I need that to go to work, can you take care of that. I'll sign over the title to you. It will never end.
Congratulations to James Clarkson and he sounds like a very level headed young man. However, he should have sought out independent, professional legal and financial advice before the claimed his win.
The first piece of advice they have given him, is to remain anonymous. There is absolutely no benefit to going public with a lottery win, but there are plenty of disadvantage in doing so.
I hope he is strong enough to resist the endless requests he will receive asking for "help". If not, he will be back at square one and definitely won't be able to quit his job. Best of luck to him!
one can only hope & pray, Dannyct
Purchased his girlfriend Gucci. What a waste, but I hope he doesn't shower 🚿 her with lavish gifts as it will never stop she'll want more, bigger and more expensive things.
A Gucci bag is never a waste. If she was greedy, she would have asked for a 30k plus birkin vs a 3k Gucci bag.
Don't know anything about bags, purses, etc, but I always marvel at people that haven't won a jackpot criticizing people that have won. I think it's ok to buy things you normally wouldn't/couldn't, while investing and saving for the future also. Not gonna live forever so enjoy the money also while you can.
the trip and luxuries he bought are irrelevant. what's going to make that money disappear like houdini is the fact that he told everyone in his family and they all live close by. everyone is going to need a new car, roof repairs, etc.
I think in the UK there is no option to remain anonymous, unless the rules changed.
UK is anonymous. Per a December 2024 update, about 85% choose anonymity . It has been that way for a while.
I guess I was mistaken, thank you for the correction 🙏
When you win a National Lottery prize in the UK, you are able to decide whether to go public or stay anonymous. It is one of the first big choices you have to make and it is entirely up to you which option you take.
It is great to have that option. I would take the anonymous route all the time.
Its his money and he can spend it on anything he wants. Spending money on your girlfriend, if she is "wife material", is probably the best investment you can make at that age.
My personal advice to you is to quit your current job and get a new job that nobody tells you when to work and when not to work. Even though it seems like a good idea to keep your old Job two problems
Security Risk
Jealousy
They will never treat you normal instead Gossip Gossip Gossip. 😎😊
One issue on choosing to go public that many lottery winners don't consider, is the repeated and publicity.
Agreed, his working 'life' after the hit will change for the worse. I like that he still has goals to become heating engineer, but way too young to 'miss out' on so much since he will have the means to experience.
Even so you don't go off the handle like this kid did with pronouncements and announcements about how he is going to take care of a " large" family. All their antenna's came popping out of his families heads when they heard that. Gee, I think I had better go visit him more often is what they are all planning. I only saw him once growing up but I think I will amend that now. A person won 25 million in New Bedford, Ma. a few years ago and said I am going to donate all of it to charity outside of maybe a few thousand for me. No one ever bothered him for money. Of course if was a lie but you have to lock up to avoid this issue.
Agreed: The lottery win prepositions one on the launching pad waiting for someone to press the button.
BobP
Yes, having a big family can be great. However, if you let the world know that you now have millions, many family members, plus many strangers, will start asking for "help".
If James Clarkson is not strong enough to say no, his 7.5 million jackpot disappear very quickly.
If lottery winners aren't smart enough to remain anonymous, are they smart enough to manage the money for their long-term financial security?
Saying No is not good enough. Actually denying access is easier. For example my phone is permanently on Do Not Disturb . Believe it or not have received over 2000 calls from strangers that never went through only thoes on my Emergency bypass cam even talk to me. And number two my location is changed every 48 hrs So if you Accidentally knock ✊ on my Door l will Accidentally be calling police. 👮 So am not worried about strangers asking me for money because they can't even contact me ever . So if am famous or Not makes no difference because my wallet carries only $200 and my ATM card limited to $500 per week so trying to rob me will let you keep the $200 have a nice day. This does not mean l don't give. If you are listed on my Gift 🎁 list Congratulations and if you are not listed You are Prohibited from even Asking me for money . One guy came to me on the street to tell me his problems and l told him my problems he walked away quick 🤣
All attorneys fired
All financial advisors fired
All tax experts fired
All relatives under restrictions need Visa
All new friends fired
All investment ideas Fired
And am 100 percent serious no bull 🐂
Yes l be in a $5,000,000 motorhome Airforce one on Land so Get off my plane ✈️
All l need are Four beautiful real flight Attendants in different uniforms everyday to brighten my life 😀
And yes all my four flight Attendants will fill out forms on everything so there is no misunderstanding.
sleeping arrangements bunk bed only or master bedroom optional .
Hugs yes or no
kisses yes or no
timeout on road
cooking yes or no
cleaning yes or no
laundry yes or no
Free Shopping 🛍️ yes or no
You see every detail will be 100 percent 💯 consensual so absolutely no misunderstanding and 100 percent 24 hour surveillance on all public areas so if you want privacy go to your sleeper or bathroom. This $5,000,000 motorhome will have a stacker trailer to carry two Lamborghinis only one flight attendant that wants to go shopping 🛍️ can ride the rest call uber 😀😇