Most of us imagine a lottery win as a ticket to lifelong security.
For Colin Weir, it became a whirlwind of generosity and spending.
In 2011, the former TV cameraman from Largs, North Ayrshire, and his wife Christine won £161 million on EuroMillions. At the time, it was one of the largest prizes ever paid out in the UK.
Weir did not hide from his new wealth. Instead, he used it quickly and widely. Reports later showed he spent around £100,000 a week. He bought cars, properties, holidays, and racehorses. He cleared debts, helped friends and relatives, and quietly wrote many charitable cheques.
Football was one passion. He bought a majority stake in Partick Thistle to support the club and its community. He also established the Weir Charitable Trust, which funds Scottish community groups and small charities.
There were many personal gifts, too. The couple helped local teams, backed young tennis player Ross Wilson, and paid for 13-year-old cancer patient Kieran Maxwell’s prosthetic leg. Weir said it was a “privilege” to assist.
Weir also donated heavily to the Scottish National Party and the independence campaign. After his death in 2019, then–First Minister Nicola Sturgeon praised his “determination and generosity.”
By the time he died, less than a year after his divorce, Weir had reportedly spent about £38 million. His story is a striking reminder that a vast fortune can change lives well beyond the winner’s own front door.
