Joe and Jess Thwaite won a record-breaking US$230 million with a lucky dip lottery ticket. From Gloucester, England, the couple now plans to repair their home, take their children to Hawaii, and enjoy “time to dream.”
News Highlights
- A couple from Gloucester won £184 million (US$230 million), the biggest lottery prize ever in the UK.
- Their net worth is now more than Adele’s.
- They plan to give their children the lifestyle and vacations they always wanted.
Biggest Ever Lottery Haul
Married couple Joe and Jess Thwaite had long envisioned a countryside lifestyle with plenty of room for their children, three ponies, dogs, chickens, and geckos.
They finally moved into a house in Gloucester, but they faced a laundry list of repairs before it could become their dream home.
Little did they know, on the morning of May 11, their lives would drastically change for the better.
The Thwaites won the largest lottery prize in UK history, at £184,262,899.10 – the equivalent to more than US$230 million.
A “Surreal” Moment
It was a quiet morning when Mr. Thwaite let the dogs out at 5:15 am and checked his phone. He couldn’t believe what he saw:
I looked at the amount, and I put the phone down. And I picked the phone up again… I first thought it was in thousands, but then started counting the digits. Amazing, but also surreal.
joe thwaite, lottery winner
Completely stunned and unsure of what to do next, he decided to wait until his wife woke up to give her the news. “I couldn’t go back to sleep. I didn’t want to wake Jess up, so I just laid there for what seemed like forever. I spent some time searching for property with no budget limit, which was a novelty.”
When Jess finally awoke, Mr. Thwaite said, “I’ve got a secret. I’ve got something to tell you.” Not believing him, she responded by saying, “Don’t be stupid,” and went about her morning as usual.
Once they confirmed the win with the National Lottery operator, the reality hit home. Mrs. Thwaite didn’t know what else to do besides meet her mother in a park to relay the incredible revelation in person.
Richer Than Adele
Joe, age 49, and Jess, age 44, are now richer than Grammy-award winning, recording artist Adele. The previous lottery record was set in October 2019 when an anonymous winner took home £170 million (around US$213 million).
Up until their lottery win, the couple had been struggling with house renovations due to rising inflation over the past few years. With a bucket in the hallway to catch rainwater leaking from the roof, the Thwaites were feeling the strain of looming home repairs.
Mrs. Thwaite said, “Like many parents, we stretch ourselves to give our kids everything we can.”
“Time To Dream”
As for what the future holds, Mrs. Thwaite said their winnings would give them “time to dream.”
Mr. Thwaite, a communications engineer, has already left his job to enjoy more free time. Mrs. Thwaite, who runs a salon alongside her sister, is still considering what to do with her position. They both plan to share their wealth with family and friends and finally complete the much-needed repairs to their home.
Currently, their only purchase has been bedroom furniture, but they plan to vacation as much as possible.
Our two children have always talked about going to Hawaii. I’ve no idea why, but we can now make that dream come true.
JESS thwaite, lottery winner
Together, the couple is excited that the win will give them “time to share lots of experiences and go on adventures with our family and friends.”
