Before luck struck, Gareth Bull, a builder in Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottingham, England, lived a quiet life with his wife Catherine and their two sons.
Like many families, they occasionally bought EuroMillions lottery tickets for fun. But on 20/1/2012, that ticket brought them a 40,6 million pound jackpot – one of England's largest prizes at the time.
Appearing before the media, Gareth and his wife smiled brightly, calling themselves "the most boring millionaires". They stated they only wished for more financial stability and more family time.
However, the massive fortune quickly changed their lifestyle. While Catherine wanted to maintain a simple routine, Gareth indulged more in luxury. At their newly acquired holiday villa in Spain, Gareth had an affair with a bar owner. The relationship broke down, leading to legal disputes and a tell-all book from his mistress. In 2016, the couple officially divorced.
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Gareth Bull and Catherine in Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottingham, England. *Photo: Daily Mail*
The Bull family's tragedy is not an isolated case. An analysis by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) based on Swedish lottery winners' data indicates that unexpected money does not destroy a happy marriage, but it accelerates pre-existing conflicts.
Notably, the study found that when the husband wins a large sum, the divorce risk decreases by about 40%; but if the wife wins an equivalent amount, the divorce risk in the first two years can nearly double.
Experts explain that money alters "negotiating power" within a family. When the financial balance shifts suddenly, underlying disagreements can easily escalate into irreparable rifts.
That is precisely what happened to partners Luis Ribeiro and Cristina Simoes in Portugal. When they were dating, the couple, in their 20s, habitually contributed 4 EUR to buy a shared lottery ticket each weekend. On 19/1/2007, they won 15 million EUR. The money was deposited into an account in the names of Luis, Cristina, and Cristina's parents.
Initially, they believed their luck had opened a future of financial freedom. But trouble immediately arose when Luis wanted to withdraw money to help his family. Cristina's parents blocked his access, citing that major decisions should only be made after marriage. Feeling offended, believing he owned half the ticket, Luis sued in 2008, requesting a freeze on the assets.
From a couple sharing a dream of changing their lives, they became adversaries in a legal battle lasting over a decade. After three court levels, the final ruling mandated that the prize be divided equally.
But by then, love was gone. "I finally won, but it was a bitter victory", Luis admitted.
By Ngoc Ngan (Sources: The Sun, Daily Mail, Mirror)
