The largest-ever EuroMillions jackpot worth an estimated £175million is up for grabs tonight.
The jackpot has now reached its cap, meaning any prizes in the next winning tier will be boosted.
If a single UK ticket-holder takes home the entire £175million in tonight's draw they will shoot to the top of the National Lottery Rich List, ahead of last year's £170 million anonymous winner.
The jackpot would make the winner worth more than golfer Rory McIlroy and singer Sir Tom Jones, who are each ranked at £170 million according to the Sunday Times Rich List, and heavyweight boxing world champion Anthony Joshua, who the list estimates is worth £107 million.
If a UK player were to bank the jackpot, recent research shows that they would be likely to use their new found fortune to help others by making lots of other people millionaires, according to the National Lottery.
According to a survey by the organisation, Brits said they would make on average another 13 other people millionaires if they won more than £100 million.
Research into actual National Lottery millionaires also shows that 76 per cent have gifted a home or paid off a friend or relative's mortgage.
Camelot's senior winners' adviser at The National Lottery, Andy Carter, described the jackpot as "truly mind-blowing".
He said: "A UK winner would be propelled to the top of the rich list and immediately be able to make all of their friends and families dreams come true.
"My team and I have our fingers crossed for all UK players and are on standby to support our big winners as they start their life changing journey."
The last time the EuroMillions jackpot reached the cap was October 2019, when it was won by one UK ticket-holder.
In the draws leading up to this win, 12 UK players claimed between £1.7 million and £3.6 million, for matching five main numbers and one Lucky Star.
This year, the National Lottery said it has given up to £800 million to charities and organisations affected by the impact of the coronavirus outbreak across the communities, the arts, heritage and sport.
What happens to the EuroMillions money if no one claims it?
If no UK players come forward within 180 days then the prize money, plus all the interest it has generated while it is held in trust, goes to National Lottery-funded projects across the UK.
The National Lottery have said: "Our players change the lives of individuals as well as communities by raising, on average, over £33 million for National Lottery-funded projects every week."
Is the prize money capped?
The maximum jackpot prize is capped at €200 million - before conversion - and can alter depending on which country the winner lives in and the value of their currency.
In the UK, the winner's prize would be capped around £181.5million.
Under the EuroMillions rules, the current jackpot can only stay capped at €200 million until 18th December. The list below shows what will happen in each upcoming draw if there are no jackpot winners:
1st Capped Draw: Friday 4th December - The maximum jackpot of 200 million Euros is reached for the first time in history.
2nd Capped Draw: Tuesday 8th December - The €200 million (est. £175 million) jackpot is put back into play. If there are no top prize winners, it remains at this level for the next draw.
3rd Capped Draw: Friday 11th December - The €200 million jackpot is put back into play. If there are still no top prize winners, it will remain at this level for the next draw.
4th Capped Draw: Tuesday 15th December - The €200 million jackpot is put back into play. If there are still no top prize winners, it will remain at this level for the next draw.
5th Capped Draw: Friday 18th December - This is the final time that the €200 million jackpot could be offered and is therefore a 'Must Be Won' draw.
If there are no 'Match 5 + 2 Lucky Stars' winners in this draw, the entire €200,000,000 prize fund will roll down and be shared between players in the next winning tier (most likely Match 5 + 1 Lucky Star).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel