He Won £9.7m at 19, Then Returned to Refuse Collection
Michael Carroll was a 19-year-old refuse collector when he won £9.7 million in the UK National Lottery in 2002. The win made him famous overnight and was worth more than ₦20 billion at recent exchange rates. He spent heavily on homes, cars, jewellery and parties, while also giving £1 million each to his mother, aunt and sister. He put money into investments, but withdrawals, penalties and a costly lifestyle steadily reduced his fortune. Carroll also faced repeated legal trouble, including a prison sentence for affray. By 2010, he had returned to refuse collection, saying he had no regrets about how his life turned out. His story remains a striking warning about the pressures and risks that can come with sudden wealth.
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