Second lottery-winning couple in a week ‘broken up’ over how to spend £101m EuroMillions fortune
Reports suggest Dave and Angela Dawes’ relationship struggled under pressure of lottery success
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A couple who won more than £100 million playing the EuroMillions lottery could be set to become the second jackpot-winning pair to divorce in a matter of days, reports suggest.
Dave and Angela Dawes, who scooped £101 million and bought a £9 million mansion in Surrey two years ago, appear to provide confirmation that money can’t buy you love.
According to reports in a Sunday newspaper, the six-year relationship between former factory supervisor Dave, 49, and former taxi driver Angela, 46, has broken down over the pressures of how to spend their sudden fortune.
A member of the Dawes family told the Sunday People: “It is to do with the money. They have been rowing about how to spend it.
“I don’t know if they are going to get divorced, but they have definitely broken up.”
The Dawes’ EuroMillions win was the fourth-largest ever, and was followed by a champagne-filled press conference in which the couple promised to make friends and family millionaires.
Another source told the paper: “Initially Angie and Dave hoped the money would change life for the better. However, some people were not happy with the way the money was being dished out.
“With both of them having children and partners from previous marriages there were a lot of tough decisions. They soon realised that winning the lottery wasn’t all champagne and parties.
“It must have had an effect on the relationship.”
Reports of the alleged split follow the confirmed plans to divorce of another EuroMillions-winning couple earlier last week.
Adrian and Gillian Bayford, from Haverhill, Suffolk, took the second-biggest ever lottery prize of £148 million in August last year.
At a press conference organised by lottery organiser Camelot after their win, mother-of-two Ms Bayford, 41, had said she hoped the windfall would allow the family to spend more time together. But on Wednesday a spokesperson said: “Gillian Bayford confirms that her marriage to Adrian has broken down irretrievably and they have separated.”
A Camelot spokesperson said only a small minority of winners regretted their lottery success.
She added: “We regularly conduct research among National Lottery winners about life after the win.
“In recent research undertaken, only 2 per cent of winners had separated from their partner since winning a major prize with 99 per cent of winners claiming to be as happy or happier than before their win.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments