Lottery winners reveal how much they give away

LOTTERY JACKPOT winners still buy own-brand goods and stick with their partner, and nine out 10 winners spurn private healthcare, according to the first survey of big winners published today.

And dour predictions that the money doesn't bring happiness appeared to be wide of the mark after the majority of winners said they were, understandably, happy to be elevated to millionaire status.

The findings are included in a survey by National Lottery operator Camelot which commissioned MORI to question 249 players who had won at least pounds 50,000 on the Lottery with 111 having scooped more than pounds 1m. Just 2 per cent of respondents said the win had made them less happy. Some 95 per cent remained married to their partner and all those living with a partner prior to their win but unmarried were still in the same relationship.

Charity began very much at home for the newly rich. Some 83 per cent of winners said they had given some of their money to their family. Of these two-thirds had given money to siblings, 57 per cent to their children and 51 per cent to their parents. Nine out of 10 winners who had a best friend prior to their win said the situation, or the person, had not changed.

Men appeared to be more generous with their winnings than women, on average giving money to three friends compared with one for women. Men also gave larger amounts with, on average, the largest pounds 147,000 compared with pounds 60,000 for women. The largest single amount of money given away by one winner was pounds 3m.

The burden of wealth has not prevented winners from indulging in dream purchases ranging from cars, homes and holidays with 7 per cent of winners opting for a caravan. Some 12 per cent have still not been abroad.

Six out of 10 have not moved house and the majority of those that have stayed within nine miles of where they used to live.

Ninety per cent of winners still opted for NHS treatment but some of the newly-rich had become newly-vain - one per cent had opted for plastic surgery.

Some 3 per cent had moved their children from state to private schools. A third of all winners said they had gained weight since their win but only 12 per cent had joined a health club. On average, winners said they had spent 44 per cent of their winnings.

And 37 per cent of winners surveyed still bought supermarket own-brands, with just 4 per cent claiming they had switched to branded goods.