In the next few paragraphs, we have added interesting facts about Colin and Chris Weir, and their lives after winning the EuroMillions jackpot. We have gathered interesting and up-to-date information from trustworthy resources.
What Is EuroMillions?
EuroMillions is one of the most popular online lottery sites in the UK. The site is owned by the Lottery Company Ltd., and it is licensed and regulated by the UK gambling authorities. The site was first launched in 2002 and has been active in the UK since 2005, collecting and providing EuroMillions results.
The EuroMillions website is easy to use; there is now also an app available for those of you who would like to play but are always on the go. EuroMillions is popular for giving out jackpot prizes up to €200,000 and over. The prize won by Colin and Chris Weir in 2011 was the biggest registered lottery jackpot in the UK.
Interesting fact:
In the first-ever EuroMillions draw, 8.2% of prizes were won in the UK.
EuroMillions is open for UK players and players from across Europe. The site and app are available in 13 languages, there is also a log-in area and Free Lottery with daily and weekly draw prizes. Similar to the BBC lottery, EuroMillions is the platform where lotto players can turn into millionaires within seconds.
Colin and Chris Weir – EuroMillions Jackpot Winners
Colin and Chris Weir from North Ayrshire, Largs, won £161 million from EuroMillions in 2011. This was the biggest lottery draw in Europe at the time, making the couple one of the 5 lotto millionaires for a while. Colin was a TV cameraman and studio manager, and Chris was a psychiatric nurse. The couple had been married for over 30 years and have two grown children.
The Weir family did not know at the time that they had the lucky numbers at EuroMillions. Chris has shared with the media that she and Colin were having a calm Tuesday evening watching TV. She checked the EuroMillions results at around midnight and found out their numbers matched the winning lottery combination. When the couple realised they’d won, they thought they were dreaming and could not sleep the whole night because of the euphoria and because the Camelot line was closed until the next morning.
Very quickly, the Weir family was all over the media in Scotland and in the UK. The family set a new lottery winner record by winning the whopping £161 million from EuroMillions. Angela Kelly from East Kilbride had previously been the biggest lottery winner in Scotland, winning £35,425,411.80 from EuroMillions as well. The Weirs were in 430th place in the 2011 Sunday Times Rich list, a little below David and Victoria Beckham, after scoring one of the biggest lotto wins ever.
Weirs EuroMillions Winning Numbers
As mentioned, the Weirs could not believe at first that they’ve won the lottery jackpot at EuroMillions. They had to check a few times if their numbers match. Chris explained in an interview that they had bought five Lucky Dips. She started circling the numbers, and at first, she didn’t have much of a success. Finally, on the fifth line, all the circled numbers matched the ones in the EuroMillions results. Colin and Chris Weir winning numbers for the massive £161 million jackpot were 17, 19, 38, 42 and 45, plus the Lucky Stars, which were 9 and 10.
How Did the Weir Family Spend The Jackpot?
Colin and Chris Weir were very excited about winning the biggest lottery win in the UK, but they had bigger plans for their money rather than just spending it all by themselves. Of course, the couple did spend a big amount of the EuroMillions jackpot for a new home for themselves, as well as new homes for their two grown children. They’ve covered other expenses related to their illnesses and debts. Most of the money from the lottery was invested towards charity work, for which the Weir family was both praised and criticised by the public.
Weir Charitable Trust
As written above, the Weir family did a lot of charity work throughout the years using their price from EuroMillions. Colin and Chris set up the Weir Charitable Trust in 2013. It supports and funds different services and projects, including sport, recreational facilities, and animal welfare.
- Sport
- Recreational Facilities
- Animal Welfare
- Health
- Culture
The Weir Charitable Trust does not sponsor individuals, capital projects over £100,000 or commercial ventures. The trust also does not sponsor events that raise money for charity. You can easily apply for funding if you are part of a Scottish-based community group or a small charity. There is detailed information and instructions on the official website of the Weir Charitable Trust. Applications are accepted and approved at the end of February and the end of August annually.
Patrick Thistle Football Club Donation
Colin Weir was a very big football fan. He was a big supporter of the Jags from the Patrick Thistle community football club in Largs. When the Weirs won the lottery, this was their first major investment. In honour of that grand gesture, the youth set-up of the club was re-branded the Thistle Weir Youth Academy. Also, a section of the Firhill Stadium got named after Colin, which is now known as the Colin Weir Stand.
SNP Donation Accusations
The Scottish National Party (SNP) is the country’s largest political party. Head of the party is Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland. The SNP supports and campaigns for Scotland’s independence from the UK and Brexit, and for a membership of the European Union.
The SNP has multiple supporters from across Scotland, including Colin and Chris Weir lottery winners. The pair had given around £3 million to the party and the pro-independence campaign Yes Scotland in 2014 when they had already received the EuroMillions jackpot. However, the couple were falsely accused of not giving anything for the organisation, leading to multiple personal attacks and threats.
Colin and Chris spoke out about the situation, presenting proof that they did, in fact, had contributed to the SNP and the running campaign. They both stated that they were lifelong supporters of independence and that the accusations were absurd and “downright nasty”.
Colin and Chris Weir’s Divorce
The Weirs were the couple who won the largest lottery prize in Britain. They were in the spotlight not only because of the jackpot, but because of their charity work and their strong bond as a family. Colin and Chris have been married for over 30 years, and it was a shock when in 2019, they announced their divorce.
They’ve shared in The Scottish Sun that they have been living apart for some time and that they intended to divorce amicably. There is not much information as to why the couple decided to divorce. There have been reports that the decision was based on Colin and Chris’s illnesses.
Colin Weir’s Death
A tragic news came across the media about Colin Weir’s death at the end of 2019. Colin passed away at the age of 71 from a short illness. There isn’t much information about the cause of death, the spokesman for Mr. Weir, as well as Colin’s then-wife Chris, did not add any further comments about the tragedy.
A lot of people showed their love and sincere condolence to the Weir family. Nicole Sturgeon also expressed her sadness regarding Colin’s death on the media. Patrick Thistle FC tweeted that they’re sending love and prayers to the family and close friends. A minute’s applause was held at the Patrick Thistle game to commemorate Colin’s passing a few days after the announcement.
The Weir Family Now
Unfortunately, there is not much information about the Weir family after Colin’s passing. However, there has been clarification on the cause of death of Colin Weir. According to The Sun, Colin passed away because of kidney failure. It is reported that Colin Weir has spent £40 million in the past 8 years before his passing. The prize went towards his favourite football club, charities, as well as towards buying four luxury cars and a £1.1 million seafront home in Ayr, where he lived after he and Christine split. He passed the money to his then-wife and two grown children in his will.
According to resources, the £3.5 million Frognal House, near Troon, was signed over sole ownership in Chris’s name. There is not much information about where Chris is nowadays. The Weir Charitable Trust is active, and you can apply for funding at the end of August this year.
In a Nutshell
Colin and Chris Weir were the couple that became millionaires in a night, literally! The EuroMillions jackpot winners from Ayrshire, Largs lived the dream when they got their hands on £161 million and did more than just spend the money for themselves.
The Weirs were in the spotlight for over 8 years because of their charity work. They started the Weir Charitable Trust, which funds different individual charities and organisations. Colin invested a lot in the Jags, his favourite football team. The pair also helped out a lot of close friends and family, bought houses for themselves and their children.
Sadly, Colin and Chris Weir lottery winners’ divorce became official in 2019, and Colin Weir’s death from a short illness was announced later that year. There hasn’t been much information on the media about Chris and the family since then. All we know is that the trust is still functioning, the Patrick Thistle club still receives funding from the Weirs, and that Christine and her children got signed the rest of the EuroMillions jackpot according to Colin’s will.
We will keep you updated if there is any new information! Meanwhile, we suggest you check out our blog gambling posts, where you will find interesting information about Camelot Lottery and Postcode Lottery, as well as other related topics.
FAQ
This FAQ section gives you the answers to some of the most popular questions about the Weirs and their £161 million lottery jackpot from EuroMillions. We hope that this section of the blog is useful and interesting for you. All answers are provided by our expert editors, based on trustworthy resources.