How 'Lotto Lout' found happiness after losing entire $18m fortune
A man nicknamed the “Lotto lout” who blew his $18 million fortune on sex, drugs and alcohol has said he does not regret spending all his money.
Michael Carroll, who was known as the “Lotto lout” after throwing wild parties at his Suffolk mansion, now works in a coal mine in Moray, Scotland and says he’s never been happier.
Michael Carroll was 19 when he won the $18 million lottery jackpot in 2002. He gained global notoriety after he managed to lose all the money, something a surprising amount of lottery winners do.
But he managed to burn through his cash after giving more than $7 million away to family and then spending the rest on a life of hedonism.
This included buying a $730,000 mansion and spending money on trips to Spanish brothels with his friends.
By 2012 he had spent all his cash and lost his three properties.
Mr Carroll then decided to move to Scotland to start a new life.
He had already broken up with the mother of his daughter Sandra Aitken, who he had given $1.9 million.
Mr Carroll is now living in Moray, Scotland, after leaving his mansion in Suffolk, northeast of London.
He now works in a coal mine earning less than $19 an hour but told The Mirror he couldn’t be happier.
"It didn’t go wrong – it was the best 10 years of my life for a pound,” he told the paper.
"I don’t look back with any regrets that’s for sure. It was 10 years of fun for a pound, you can’t go wrong with that.
"I wouldn’t want to turn the clock back. But I live a good, free lifestyle now and I’m happier because I’ve got my life back.”
Mr Carroll was a garbage man before he won the lottery.
- Yahoo! UK
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