CASHING IN
How EuroMillions winner Adrian Bayford’s fiancée inspired him to make even MORE money with ‘genius’ business decision
Adrian is due to tie the knot with Tracey this summer
EUROMILLIONS winner Adrian Bayford made a "genius" move to make even MORE money - all thanks to his fiancée.
The jackpot scooper's life changed forever when he bagged the £148million prize in 2012.
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He was married to now ex-wife Gillian, but friends say his current fiancee Tracey Biles is the reason for his continued success.
The green-fingered partner encouraged Ade, 53, to plant a Champagne vineyard in the grounds of his £12milion luxury pad.
She has planted what appear to be meunier grapes, one of the three main varieties used in the production of bubbly, on his Haverhill mansion on the Suffolk/Essex border.
Adrian is due to tie the knot with Tracey this summer.
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One pal said: “It’s fantastic to see Adrian using his fortune to explore new ventures. It shows what a fantastic influence Tracey is on him.
“Hopefully we’ll all be able to buy Chateau Bayford soon.”
Jane Clare, of wine blog One Foot in the Grapes, said: “If Mr Bayford is planting grapes to make fizz, he’ll be adding his own sparkle to our home-grown wines which are taking off.
“As our climate gets warmer, it is easier to ripen these grapes to a quality which in turn can create quality sparkling wines.”
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Technically, the former postie's fizz can't be called Champagne as it is not from the French region itself.
But, a vineyard is sure to boost the value of the property and help encourage potential buyers should the lotto winner wish to sell.
It comes after Ade took the £12million pad off the market after failing to find a buyer.
The English wine industry produced 22million bottles last year, up from 5.3million in 2017.
UK's biggest lottery winners
By Ethan Singh
- Anonymous winner - £195,707,000
A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket.
- Joe and Jess Thwaite - £184,262,899.10
Britain's previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite.
The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children's ponies.
Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news.
As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping.
Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children.
- Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000
Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019.
They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck.
But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019 his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m.
He spent the millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported.
Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years.
He left money for their children Carly and Jamie.
- Adrian and Gillian Brayford - £148,600,000
Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million.
But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win.
The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021.
After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge.
She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought.
It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year.
- Frances and Patrick Connolly - £114,969,775
Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot.
They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019.
She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family.
- Richard and Debbie Nuttall - £61,000,000
The couple from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61 million on January 30 2024.
Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.
But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win.
Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account.
Other eye-watering anonymous winners:
- 2019 - £123million
Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover.
- 2021 - £122million
Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April.
The successful participant chose to remain anonymous.
- 2018 - £121million
Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187.
It comes after Adrian suffered a set back earlier this year when his annual rock festival took a hit.
He has hosted the event on his 90-acre Cambridge estate since 2017.
But the festival has now been forced to find a new venue for its 20th anniversary - blaming "management changes" at Bayford's company.
More than 60 bands had been slated to entertain around 2,000 revellers at Bayford's £6.5million pad, Horseheath Lodge.
Meanwhile, last year, the event was axed at the last minute because the council didn't grant a licence.
There had been reports from disgruntled neighbours about the noise levels.
Adrian became one of England’s biggest ever Euromillions jackpot winners in 2012.
He split with his then wife Gillian 15 months later, after nine years of marriage.
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In March 2024 Bayford got engaged for the fourth time since his EuroMillions win - popping the question to ambulance worker Tracey.
The lottery winner had reportedly been unlucky in love before meeting the 48-year-old.
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