Copyright mirror
It's been three decades since Mark Gardiner , a glazier from East Sussex, scooped an eye-watering £11million on the National Lottery – one of the largest jackpots in the UK at the time. Back in 1995, the total prize was a staggering £22,590,829, which Mark shared with his business partner, Paul Maddison. After his life-changing win, Mark embarked on a lavish spending spree, splashing out on a football club in Hastings and a holiday home in sunny Barbados. However, looking back, he admitted he would have done things differently. Despite his past fortune, he still plays the lottery, sticking to the same lucky numbers in hopes of hitting the jackpot once more. Reflecting on the whirlwind days following his windfall, he told the Mail : "Some days I would wake up to find just two or three reporters outside, but, on other days, it could be more than 10. "Within a month I received my first threat of legal action, from a former girlfriend who claimed I was the father of her child and wanted money for the child's upkeep." Over the years, Mark faced numerous court cases from individuals who felt they were "entitled" to a share of his wealth. Speaking about how people treated him after his win, he said: "One evening, I went to my local pub and a man I'd never seen before came over and asked me if I was Mark Gardiner. I thought he was going to wish me well, but instead he chucked his pint of beer all over me. I didn't know what to think – it was bizarre." He also confessed to buying two local football clubs, only to label it a "complete waste of money" when he had to put them into administration. Mark revealed that he purchased homes for four of his closest mates in the same cul-de-sac, but lamented that they all later "took advantage" of him. His wealth dwindled due to a series of unsuccessful investments and following his split from his fourth wife in 2004, he vowed never to tie the knot again. Despite these hurdles and the disappointment of losing millions, Mark now leads an ordinary life, content with his job as a glazier and driving his work van. One of the best decisions he made was to invest £2million into his Croft Glass company and return to his regular job. Speaking to The Sun about his current life, he reflected in 2023: "Don't get me wrong, if I won the lottery now at 61 I'd have done so many different things. I'd have stopped work." However, as his net worth decreased, he became more engaged in his business, which he believes helped him remain grounded. He elaborated: "I decided to invest money into it. I wanted to see if I had the ability, the skill and the knowledge to take it further. It was like a test and I have passed." Regarding the freedom to occasionally take a break from work, he added: "I don't worry if I take the day off I won't be able to pay my staff's wages." His former business partner Paul, who also bagged £11m in 1995, passed away in November 2023 at the age of 73. Reflecting on this, Mark said: "It's a shame we lost touch. I tried to stay in touch with him and I would leave messages for him on his phone but he had moved on."
