EuroMillions ticket holder in UK wins £177m

A UK ticket-holder has won the £177m EuroMillions jackpot, scooping the third biggest prize ever seen in the country.

The winning numbers were 7, 11, 25, 31, 40 with lucky stars 9 and 12.

Andy Carter, senior winners’ adviser for lottery operator Allwyn, called it a “wonderful win right before Christmas” – and urged players to check their tickets.

If the winner is an individual – rather than a syndicate splitting the prize – he or she will immediately become richer than musicians Harry Styles and Adele who featured on this year’s Sunday Times Rich List with fortunes of £175m and £170m respectively.

The dilemma of what to do with a huge lottery win is the stuff of dreams for most people.

But those lucky enough to have a huge win should plan for the future as well as readjusting to day-to-day life on their new, turbo-charged income.

Here are some top tips from finance experts:

• Becky O’Connor, head of pensions and savings at interactive investor, said legal support, independent financial advice and an excellent accountant are key

• Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest, suggested one way to celebrate without blowing too large a sum could be to have a “millionaire experience…whether that’s taking a luxury trip, going out for a mega-expensive meal or buying a fancy car”

• Ian Pickford, partner and head of financial planning at audit and tax firm Mazars, said: “If managed correctly [a big windfall] can offer numerous generations a lifetime of financial security, but it can also cause family rifts and money troubles down the line. It’s imperative that people seek the advice of experts and put a long-lasting plan in place”

• Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, advised those suddenly coming into a fortune “not to rush to act” and create a financial plan.