£158 million EuroMillions Jackpot on Friday Evening

The second highest EuroMillions jackpot of the year is the target for players tomorrow night. Not since October 4 has the top prize been won and Friday’s jackpot is up to £158 million (€189 million).

Only the €213.8 million (£180.7 million) jackpot won by a ticket sold in Portugal in June has been higher than Friday’s.

Perhaps we’ll see another big winner like the success Patrick and Frances Connolly from Northern Ireland had five years ago. The couple won a £114.9 million top prize on the very first day of 2019.

“Who needs all that money?”

When they won their EuroMillions jackpot, the couple pledged to help others. That pledge has been kept with £60 million of their win being given in donations. When asked why this had been done, Frances replied: “Oh, who needs all that money?”

There have been some extravagant purchases for themselves. Top of that list is the six-bedroom house in Durham, England set in seven acres of land. Mr Connolly drives an Aston Martin but it is second-hand.

First purchase

What was the first purchase made after winning their EuroMillions jackpot?  Mrs Connolly, 58, asked someone to go to Marks and Spencer for her and three pairs of knickers costing just £12.

While both are multi-millionaires, they have very busy lives. Mr Connolly continues to run his plastic businesses, while his wife has set up two charitable foundations. That’s something which is quite common in the USA where  many Powerball jackpots have set up charitable foundations.

One in Northern Ireland is named after her late mother Kathleen Graham.  The other is the PFC Trust which is in Hartlepool, England. They help people get into employment and also give assistance to refugees and buy electronic tablets for older members of the community. This enables them to maintain contact with their family.
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Even though the EuroMillions jackpot has been won, Mrs Connolly says it hasn’t changed her personality. “If you’re stupid before you get it, you’re going to be stupid afterwards. Money’s not going to make you sensible.”

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