Modest home of the £12m Lotto winner
BRITAIN’S thriftiest Lotto winner still lives in his modest family home more than 20 years after his £12.3 million win.
David Ashcroft, 51, has refused to splash out on a big mansion, exotic holidays or other trappings of wealth such as flash motors.
The life-long bachelor even still works at his tiny furniture restorer firm round the corner from the £200,000 three-bed terrace home he shares with his parents.
He has never moved house and spends most of his time tinkering in his carpentry workshop. However, one of Britain’s wealthiest carpenters has splashed out on a few luxuries.
A new van for work was top of his shopping list as well as a caravan in North Wales for holidays.
Quiet
He also treated his parents Roy and Jean to a brand-new Mitsubishi 4x4.
Mr Ashcroft was determined that the money would not change him after his big win in May 1997 and he has been true to his word.
He said at the time: “I’m an ordinary, quiet introvert. This may change me but I hope not.”
Sensible Mr Ashcroft has set up three property companies to invest his millions.
And, unlike many rich men, his head has not been turned by a glamorous younger woman on whom he could lavish his millions. In fact he admits his love life has been rather sparse.
Mr Ashcroft said after his win: “Any girlfriends from the past will probably come from my days in kindergarten. Miss Right may be out there. Who knows what fate may bring?”
He bought his ticket at his local newsagents in the suburb Mossley Hill in the south Liverpool.
He is very secretive about what he does with his money and neighbours gossiped that it was actually his sister who won after she appeared with a £60,000 Ferrari. of of However, this was a present and Mr Ashcroft treated all his brothers and sisters to new cars.
When asked what he had spent his windfall on, Mr Ashcroft remained tight-lipped as he said: “I can’t talk about it.”
Many past Lotto winners have blown the lot in wild spending sprees or even ended up in debt after bad investments.
Former Norfolk binman Michael Carroll, 19, dubbed the “Lotto lout”, scooped £9.7 million in 2002. He blew the lot on gambling, cocaine and prostitutes.
Supermarket worker Callie Rogers of Workington, Cumbria, became the youngest jackpot winner when she landed £1.9 million in 2003 aged 16.
But the win turned her head and she confessed to blowing £250,000 on cocaine and more than £11,000 on two boob jobs.
Last year she admitted she had just £2,000 left in the bank.