A circle of companions who routinely partake in the EuroMillions lottery is rejoicing today following a €123 million (£100m) windfall. However, one member of the 21-person syndicate disclosed that he values good health over his €5.8 million (£5m) share of the significant prize.
Fernand, hailing from Zingem in Belgium, expressed, “I would have preferred to be in good health. I’ve been battling health issues for years, and I would have chosen good health over this substantial sum of money. With this wealth, we can bring joy to our children and grandchildren.”
Éric, another syndicate member, clarified their playing pattern: “We only participate when the jackpot surpasses €100 million,” he mentioned. “We skipped the Tuesday draw but on Friday, all 21 of us pooled in five euros each and bought four tickets at the Taerwe bakery nearby.”
Redgy Taerwe, the bakery proprietor, shared mixed emotions about the win: “One of them called me and invited me to celebrate with champagne,” he narrated to Flemish media outlet HLN. “I rushed to the bakery at 2:30 am to join the revelry.”
While Redgy was thrilled for his customers, he also expressed a tinge of sorrow: “Unfortunately, I’m not part of the group,” he said, adding, “It’s not my place to disclose the winners’ identities. If they choose, they will do it themselves.”
This marks the second consecutive occasion where the EuroMillions jackpot has been won by players in Belgium. In December, another fortuitous winner from the relatively small European nation, about half the size of Scotland, pocketed €142 million (just under £123m) in a massive draw.
The most recent British winner claimed the prize in October 2025, making it the third British win of the year. In January, one ticket-holder secured £83m, followed by a £65m victory on Valentine’s Day. Both winners opted to remain anonymous.
Remarkably, there are instances where significant prizes go unclaimed despite widespread media coverage. In 2024, a player from Wales missed out on a £1m prize by failing to claim their EuroMillions win within the 180-day deadline, leading to the funds being directed to National Lottery-supported initiatives.
Andy Carter, from the National Lottery, expressed regret over the missed opportunity: “Regrettably, the ticket-holder did not come forward within the stipulated timeframe to claim their prize,” he stated. “Nonetheless, the funds will contribute to the £30m raised weekly for National Lottery-backed projects.”
The largest unclaimed EuroMillions prize in the UK amounted to a staggering £63.8m back in June 2012.
