Lottery winner celebrates £5.2m win with surprising first purchase
The east London lorry driver quits his job and says despite scooping the jackpot, he shopped around for the best deal on a new vacuum cleaner.
Friday 2 May 2025 13:16, UK
A lorry driver has celebrated winning millions on the lottery by quitting his job and buying a new vacuum cleaner.
Gary MacDonald, 60, said a Shark vacuum was the first thing he bought after winning £5.2m.
Mr MacDonald, from Barking, east London, admitted that, despite his newfound wealth, he had "shopped around for the best deal".
"We are not flash people; we are very down to earth and know the value of things," he said.
He found out about his success last Thursday in a National Lottery email, and, at first, he thought he'd won £35 in the 6 April draw.
It was "the longest two and a half hours of my life waiting until the phone lines open at 8.00am" to confirm the win, he said.
Anita, his partner of 25 years, "thought it was five thousand and something", he said. "I was saying: 'No love, it's more than that'."
Mr MacDonald, who has played Lotto each week since the game started, had got up at 5.30am that day.
But, instead of delivering parcels to Lakeside Shopping Centre in nearby Thurrock, which he has done for more than 30 years, "at 6.30am, I called my boss and resigned", he said.
He said he had realised "there was absolutely no point in doing another day's work, not today, not any day".
His daughter thought he was joking when he told her, he said.
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"It's been a crazy few days, I can't believe everyone's reaction," he said. "I don't think I have ever been sworn at so much".
He and Anita are going to marry this summer - and the keen Formula One fan also plans to go and watch a race in person.