Britain’s youngest-ever lottery winner shares a life update, opening up about the struggles she faced over the 20 years since her tragic jackpot win.
Callie Rogers became the youngest-ever lottery winner in Britain when she won $2,430 million at just 16 years old.
Now, two decades later, she reflects on how her life has changed since that momentous win.
Callie Rogers became the UK’s youngest-ever female lottery winner
In 2003, Callie Rogers was a shop assistant earning $ 4.67 an hour.
Winning the lottery was a life-altering event for the young teenager. However, the windfall did not bring the happiness many might expect.
After winning, Callie quickly spent half a million pounds on homes for herself and her family. She also spent $713 ,000 on clothes, tattoos, and travel.
However, her spending didn’t stop there. Callie underwent numerous cosmetic surgeries and spent $324,000 on a cocaine habit. Additionally, she lost significant amounts of money by lending it to friends and family, who never repaid her.
Callie Rogers struggled emotionally 20 years after winning the lottery
At 16, Callie was thrust into the spotlight, and many took advantage of her newfound wealth. She was exploited due to her age, which led to numerous fake relationships.
In an interview on This Morning in 2018, Callie explained that her millionaire status brought many ‘trust issues.’ She shared that she struggled to figure out who was genuinely trustworthy.
“I was a soft touch,” she said, explaining how people saw her as an easy target. “I didn’t know who was genuine.”
As the years passed, Callie longed for the simplicity of her previous life. “I just wanted to go back to having a normal life,” she admitted.
Despite being a millionaire, the constant stress of her fortune caused her significant anxiety. She struggled with trust issues and was often reminded of her lottery win in unwanted ways.
Even after working as a carer and living in a modest $648-a-month apartment, Callie couldn’t escape the past.
All these years on, it still gets dragged up. Even when I go for job interviews, I am thinking about it. I suffer from such bad anxiety when I am going to meet new people.
“It preys on my mind, what a new partner’s family will think of me, or even new friends. I still get abuse just because of who I am.” She added.
Additionally, she still faced questions about her lottery win and dealt with public scrutiny.
“People still ask me about the lottery win all the time,” she said. The fame that came with her jackpot win continued to affect her life.
Britain’s youngest-ever lottery winner moves forward 20 years after her win
Today, Callie is more content. She recently gave birth to her fifth child, Navie-Nicola, and has found happiness with her new partner, Lee Matthews.
In a heartfelt post, she shared how she’s enjoying her life with her family. “The best five weeks of life loving you, our little bean,” she wrote, reflecting her newfound joy.
Callie now advocates for a higher minimum age for lottery participation. She believes that no teenager should face the same challenges she did. In 2021, the minimum age for National Lottery participation was raised to 18.
Reflecting on her own experience, Callie hopes her children will never have to deal with the pressures of sudden wealth.
https://youtu.be/DCoJvbha52M?si=ccL6qz_NHkKCZKCK
While winning the lottery might seem like a dream come true, Callie Rogers’ story shows the difficulties that can arise from sudden fame and wealth. After 20 years, she has found peace and stability.
Callie’s journey serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of support and maturity in handling unexpected fortune.