Lottery Winner Who Won £1.8 Million Loses Home, Husband, and Fortune but Finds New Purpose
Lara Griffiths, 54, who won £1.8 million in the first online National Lottery in 2005, has lost it all—her house, her husband, and her fortune, reported by the Mirror. Despite the setbacks, Lara has found a new path and refuses to let her past define her future.
Lara and her then-husband, Roger, claimed the life-changing jackpot after receiving an alert at 2:30 a.m. Initially skeptical, they were overwhelmed when the win was verified by Camelot, the National Lottery operator at the time.
The couple, parents to a 22-month-old daughter, Ruby, quit their jobs—Lara was a performing arts teacher, and Roger an IT manager—and embraced a luxurious lifestyle. They traveled extensively to destinations like Dubai, Florida, and France, and moved into a £450,000 barn conversion. They also purchased a beauty salon to expand their ventures.
However, their high life came crashing down in December 2010 when a devastating fire destroyed their home. “The whole place burned down while I was at work, but Roger, the two children, and the dogs were inside,” Lara said. “It was a nightmare—we lost all of our possessions too. We didn’t even have clothes to wear. Our home burned for three days”, according to the Daily Star.
The family faced another blow when Roger left her, and by their divorce in December 2013, the couple was out of money. Lara also battled health challenges, including Crohn’s disease, which caused her weight to plummet to six stone.
After losing her home and financial independence, Lara moved in with her mother, where she relied on her support for a year. Her daughters, Ruby, now 20, and Kitty, 17, also live with her in a property that includes a garden studio. Lara has since retrained as a tattoo artist to support her family.
Despite the hardships, Lara remains optimistic. “I love my life now. OK, I’ve been through some really difficult moments, but I don’t regret winning,” she said. “I regret not having the money anymore, but I plan to make it back somehow.”
From the highs of sudden wealth to the challenges of rebuilding her life, Lara’s journey serves as a reminder of resilience in the face of adversity.