Celebrity photographer Rankin has marked the National Lottery’s 30th birthday by capturing portraits of 30 millionaires whose lives were transformed by lottery wins over the past three decades. The shoot commemorates the anniversary of the UK’s first National Lottery draw on 19 November 1994, which has since created over 7,400 millionaires and paid out more than £95 billion in prizes.
The millionaires, collectively worth more than £190 million, gathered at Rankin’s London studio to take part in the landmark shoot, which includes both intimate individual portraits and a group photo featuring winners from across the UK. These 30 winners, who have between them won £194 million, represent a fraction of the National Lottery’s success stories. They travelled from locations as far as Northern Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, and Newcastle for the event, with ages spanning 25 to 80 years old.
Rankin, known for photographing high-profile figures such as Queen Elizabeth II and the Rolling Stones, shared his admiration for the lottery winners and their journeys. “I am extremely lucky that I get to meet and work with extraordinary people, from famous actors and models to NHS nurses. Meeting these winners and hearing their stories was intriguing – they’re ordinary people who have experienced something extraordinary. That is what we set out to capture.”
Among the winners featured in the photoshoot was Lesley Higgins from Aberdeenshire, who won £57.9 million on EuroMillions, and Gareth Bull from Mansfield, who won £40.6 million. Other winners included Jackie King from Grimsby, who won £14 million in 1998, and Sarah Cockings from Whitley Bay, who won £3 million in 2005. Sarah, 40, recalled her journey at the shoot, saying, “Winning changed my family’s life. I was able to finish my degree, buy a home, and now have four wonderful children. People still remember me paying for my sisters’ boob jobs after I won! We’re still very close, and all live just a few minutes from each other.”
Matt Myles from Herefordshire, representing 2014, won £1 million and immediately quit his job to travel the world. “It was a crazy year, and I have the best memories,” he said. “I flew straight to Bali, then Thailand, then Brazil for the World Cup, which was unbelievable. Now my life revolves around family, and I run my own car business.” He added that he keeps his giant cheque as a memento, hanging it in his shed to remind him of his good fortune.
Since its inception, the National Lottery has transformed lives and communities across the UK, with more than £49 billion raised for thousands of projects, from local charities to national organisations. Millionaires are spread across the UK, with the South East boasting the highest number at 1,071, followed by London and the North West.
Kathy Garrett, a Winners’ Advisor with Allwyn, the operator of the National Lottery, has paid out more than a billion pounds in prizes to players over the years. “The National Lottery has been changing lives, supporting communities, and helping charities for 30 years,” she said. “On average, seven millionaires are created every week, and these winners are just a tiny fraction of those who have been incredibly fortunate over the years.”
