One lottery winner burned through a staggering $50 million of his $200 million jackpot by spending $131k a week.
We all dream of one day winning the lottery.
Thinking of the major life changes you could make with a huge sum of money can be one of the most enjoyable ways to while away the day.
And a big chunk of cash, like, say, $50 million, should be enough to last a lifetime, right?
Well, one lottery winner proved that this wasn’t necessarily the case after he managed to blow the lot with an extreme $131k per week spending habit!
Colin Weir was the winner of one of the biggest ever lottery jackpots, after scooping £161 million ($200 million) on the EuroMillions back in 2011.
At the time, it was the second-biggest jackpot ever paid out.
However, it didn’t exactly lead to a happy ending.
In fact, Weir managed to blow a whopping £40 million ($50 million) of his fortune before he died in 2019.
That’s a quarter of his enormous jackpot in just eight years!
Before embarking on his millionaire lifestyle, Weir, who was from Largs in North Ayrshire, had worked as a cameraman for Scottish broadcaster STV.
His wife Christine (whom he later divorced in 2018) was a psychiatric nurse.
Weir’s death certificate confirmed he died in 2019 from sepsis and ‘acute kidney injury’.
The remainder of his huge amount of wealth was passed down to his two children.
After his passing, bank statements revealed exactly what Weir had spent his money on, and how he had managed to get through quite so much in quite such a short length of time!
His most extravagant expenses were luxury property, expensive cars (a vintage Bentley Arnage, a Jaguar F-Pace SUV, and multiple Mercedes cars, among others), and investments in a soccer club.
Weir purchased a 55 per cent share of Partick Thistle Football Club shortly before his death, intending to return the club’s ownership back to the local community.
He further invested in racehorses, owning three thoroughbreds, including geldings Knighted and Felony, and an Irish mare named If You Say Run, as per The Indepedent.
Weir also invested in a charity, the Weir Charitable Trust, which ‘aims to support Scottish-based community groups and small charities to provide services across Scotland to help the Scottish community’, as per its website.
He also enjoyed the finer things in life, with artwork, furniture, and jewellery valued at around £212,000 ($262,000) at the time of his death.
Weir had greatly donated to the SNP and its Scottish Independence Campaign.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon even paid tribute to Weir after his death, saying it left her ‘incredibly sad’.
She added at the time (via The National): “Colin’s determination and generosity in the cause of Scottish independence cannot be overstated and was hugely appreciated.
“The SNP and the independence movement has lost a true friend today and we will miss him dearly.”