• Lottery Results
      • Arkansas
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
      • Nebraska
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Oklahoma
      • Ohio
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Texas
      • Tennessee
      • Vermont
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • News

      News

      How a Lottery Winner Found Happiness Owning a Hair Salon

      By Jacob Rebb

      Last updated: January 29, 2024

      1 min

      Hair Salon with Chairs in Background

      When you think about the lottery you usually think about the United States because the typical size of a winning jackpot is regularly in the hundreds of millions of dollars, even reaching $1 billion on occasion. So when you hear about a lottery winner from another country you might not think it’s the biggest prize but for British resident Lara Griffith, nailing a lottery jackpot for $2.2 million (£1.8 million) would change her life forever.

      What a shock

      It’s been two decades since Lara Griffith bought that life-changing lotto ticket. At the time of her purchase, she was making roughly $51,000 (£ 40,000) as a teacher. Her husband, Roger, worked as an IT manager and made just a little less money per year than his wife. The Griffiths said that they were in “shock” when they learned that they had won.

      Immediately the husband and wife winners began to indulge themselves with their prize money. It’s been reported by People Magazine that soon after collecting their winnings they started to spend and spend fast. They flew economy to a first-class vacation in Dubai. They bought 30 used cars, and a minimum of 15 costly designer handbags. They also decided to buy a $450,000 house (that they had a mortgage on), a hair salon for $191,000, and $30,000 towards trying to make Roger into a rock star. 

      No money No Marriage

      It took the pair eight years but they spent their entire lottery jackpot. The same year that they finished their jackpot they also decided to get a divorce. Lara blamed part of the separation on the fact that Roger was obsessed with his music career. Roger had reassembled his college band and poured money into renting a recording studio, equipment, and more. His efforts failed. 

      Now without her husband or the small fortune that she won, Lara went to work at the hair salon that she and her now ex-husband had purchased as an investment early on after their big win. Initially, Lara didn’t take a salary from the investment salon but now that the lottery jackpot was gone she relied on the business for the ability to pay her bills.

      Where Is Lara Now?

      When the news broke that the Griffiths had spent their $2.2 million lottery jackpot, they began to receive some serious backlash from the internet and social media.

      “People kept saying I was stupid, pumped full of plastic surgery, and needed my kids taken away. But the fact is, I spent it wisely — and I had a great time,” she was quoted as saying in the People article. 

      Now 53 and still working at the hair salon, Lara Griffith lives with her daughters Kitty and Ruby and her 86-year-old mother.

      Get Weekly Email Updates

      "*" indicates required fields

      News, features, and original reporting on industry happenings, lottery results, rules and regulations, and more.

      Related Posts

      Jackpot History Large Winnings

      The Largest Lottery Jackpots In History: No. 6-10

      lottery matrix

      The Lotto Matrix: Alabama’s Shifting Legislative Focus, Feel-Good Wins In Michigan And Kentucky, More

      lottery results roundup

      The Lotto Matrix: Virginia Lottery Protest, Stolen Debit Card Used To Buy Winning Lottery Ticket, More

      Lotto Matrix June 13

      The Lotto Matrix: Powerball Winner Goes Power Mad And A Florida Scratcher Maven

      Recommended Read

      lottery ticket trash can

      News

      Clerk’s Scheme Nearly Costs Lottery Player $1 Million Jackpot

      There’s More…

      bourbon street new orleans

      News

      Louisiana Online Lottery Talks Put On Hold Until Next Year As Bill Gets Deferred

      May 22, 2025

      Matthew Bain

      Nicholas Cage at Movie Premiere

      News

      ‘It could happen to you’: The true story

      January 29, 2024

      Evan Lambert

      mass lottery sports jerseys

      News

      Lotto.com Enters Massachusetts, The Digital Lottery Courier’s 11th State

      October 2, 2024

      Brett Smiley

      gateway arch

      News

      Missouri Considering Legalization Of Online Lottery Ticket Sales And Lotto Couriers

      May 6, 2025

      Chris Altruda

      Get Weekly Email Updates

      "*" indicates required fields

      News, features, and original reporting on industry happenings, lottery results, rules and regulations, and more.

      • About
      • Contact
      • Privacy
      • Terms
      • Disclosure
      • Responsible Gaming

      © 2025 Lottery Geeks. Web Design by Fhoke.