In November 2002, Michael Carroll, a 19-year-old part-time refuse collector from Norfolk, England, purchased a lottery ticket for £1 (1.45 USD). He held the winning numbers for a jackpot totaling £9,736,131 (14.1 million USD). At the time of his win, Carroll did not have a bank account and was wearing an electronic tag following a criminal conviction. Over the next decade, he engaged in a period of high-volume spending that eventually led to the exhaustion of his entire fortune.
Initial Investments and High-Stakes Spending
Following the win, Carroll distributed approximately £3 million (4.35 million USD) among his family members, including his mother, sister, and aunt. He purchased a mansion known as “The Grange” in Swaffham for £325,000 (471,000 USD) and invested £1,000,000 (1.45 million USD) into his favorite football club, Rangers FC.
Carroll also established a £3.9 million (5.65 million USD) investment bond designed to provide a monthly income. However, he began withdrawing from the principal shortly after. His daily expenditures included thousands of pounds on cocaine and alcohol. He reportedly consumed up to two bottles of vodka a day. His lifestyle included hosting demolition derbies with luxury cars on his lawn and organizing expensive parties that cost up to £50,000 (72,500 USD) per night.
Legal Conflicts and Personal Turmoil
Carroll’s activities frequently brought him into contact with the legal system. He appeared in court more than 30 times and received an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) for catapulting steel balls at cars and shop windows from his van. In 2006, he served a nine-month prison sentence for affray.
During this period, his personal life underwent significant shifts. His wife, Sandra Aitken, ended their marriage following reports of his lifestyle choices. Additionally, Carroll faced external threats. He reported finding his five dogs killed and claimed that blackmailers had targeted him and his family, leading him to pay out £130,000 (188,500 USD) to various individuals.
Returning to the Workforce
By 2010, Carroll’s fortune was depleted. He applied for his former job as a refuse collector and was eventually declared bankrupt. He spent time living in a hostel and moved to Scotland to seek employment. His post-lottery career included working in a biscuit factory, a slaughterhouse, and delivering coal and firewood.
By 2019, he was working as a coal delivery man in Moray, earning approximately £10 (14.50 USD) per hour. In 2023, reports indicated he was working as a yard foreman at a quarry. He currently lives in a rented flat and has stated in interviews that he has no financial holdings left for his children, noting that he believes they should work for what they earn.