Celebrity photographer Rankin has recently captured a special gathering to celebrate The National Lottery’s 30th birthday. In this unique photoshoot, 30 millionaires from the past three decades came together to mark this milestone and share their life-changing stories.
It’s been exactly three decades since National Lottery tickets first became available for purchase in the UK on 14th November 1994. Rankin, renowned for photographing icons such as Queen Elizabeth II and the Rolling Stones, brought together these extraordinary individuals, with a combined worth exceeding £190 million, at his London studio. The photoshoot included intimate individual portraits as well as a historic group shot featuring all thirty winners, representing just a fraction of the 7,400 millionaires created since the very first draw.
Among the remarkable line-up were winners like Lesley Higgins from Aberdeenshire and Gareth Bull from Mansfield, who scooped £57.9 million and £40.6 million respectively on EuroMillions. Notable Lotto winners such as Jackie King from Grimsby, Sarah Cockings from Whitley Bay, and Peter Congdon from Truro also joined the celebration. These winners traveled from various parts of the UK to participate in the photo-shoot, showcasing the diversity of winners across different regions and age groups.
Reflecting on the experience, Rankin shared, “I am extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to meet and work with extraordinary people, from celebrities to everyday individuals. Meeting the real winners of The National Lottery and hearing their stories has been truly intriguing. These are ordinary people whose lives have been transformed by an extraordinary event. That’s what we aimed to capture in this photoshoot.”
One of the participants, Sarah Cockings, who won £3,045,705 in 2005, expressed how her Lotto jackpot changed her life, enabling her to complete her degree, buy a home, and start a family. Similarly, Matt Myles, a EuroMillions winner from 2014, reminisced about quitting his job at 27 and embarking on a world tour after winning £1,000,000. These stories highlight the profound impact that winning the lottery can have on individuals and their loved ones.
Since the inception of The National Lottery in 1994, over 7,400 millionaires have been created, and more than £95 billion has been awarded in prizes. Beyond individual lives, the lottery has raised £49 billion for various projects and charities, making a significant difference in communities across the UK.
The distribution of these lucky millionaires spans villages, towns, and cities throughout the UK. The South East of England leads with 1,071 National Lottery millionaires, followed by 886 in London and 878 in the North West. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have also seen their fair share of new millionaires, showcasing the widespread impact of the lottery across the nation.
Kathy Garrett, a winner adviser at National Lottery operator Allwyn, emphasised the ongoing impact of the lottery in changing lives, supporting communities, and funding charitable causes. With an average of seven millionaires created every week, these stories of winners coming together to celebrate the 30th anniversary serve as a testament to the lottery’s enduring legacy of creating dreams come true.
