EuroMillions Draw Creates Ten UK Millionaires As £66 Million Jackpot Rolls Over

Friday, January 16, 2026, was a night of dreams for millions of hopefuls across the United Kingdom and Europe, as the National Lottery’s EuroMillions draw dangled a jaw-dropping £66 million jackpot. The anticipation was palpable, with ticket holders glued to their screens and clutching their tickets, hoping for a life-changing windfall. The draw, which followed a rollover from the previous Tuesday, not only promised one of the largest prizes of the year but also guaranteed that ten lucky UK players would each become millionaires through the expanded Millionaire Maker game.

The EuroMillions numbers drawn that evening were 5, 17, 24, 29, and 50, with the all-important Lucky Stars being 5 and 10. According to Liverpool Echo, to claim the full jackpot, a player had to match all five main numbers plus the two Lucky Stars—a feat that, while rare, has happened before in spectacular fashion. The same night’s Thunderball results, announced at 8pm, were 3, 7, 27, 28, and 29, with the Thunderball number 12, as reported by Manchester Evening News.

For those unfamiliar with the mechanics, EuroMillions draws take place every Tuesday and Friday. Tickets cost £2.50 and must be purchased by 7:30pm on draw days. The Thunderball draw, offering a £500,000 top prize, is held four times a week—Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday—offering even more chances for players to win big, as outlined by Chronicle Live.

This particular Friday was special for another reason: the Millionaire Maker game, usually awarding a single £1 million prize, was expanded to create ten new UK millionaires. Each EuroMillions ticket included a unique code, and ten of these were drawn: JPNM78049, JQPB46716, VQPF06577, TPNT33013, VQNT31878, JQPB18782, MQNZ12142, JQPG24015, MPNM70062, and VMMW54129. According to Wales Online, this was a significant increase from the usual one winner, making the night even more extraordinary for UK participants.

Despite the enormous excitement and the sheer number of tickets sold, it was confirmed that no one matched all seven numbers needed to claim the full £66 million jackpot. As reported by Liverpool Echo, the jackpot rolled over once again, adding to the anticipation for the next draw. This is not an uncommon occurrence; only last June, a lucky ticketholder scooped the largest EuroMillions prize ever—an eye-watering £208 million—after several consecutive rollovers, a win that made headlines across Europe and instantly created a new multimillionaire in Ireland.

While the top prize went unclaimed, the night was far from a disappointment for many. Ten UK ticket holders, each with one of the winning Millionaire Maker codes, woke up £1 million richer. As Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at Allwyn (the operator of The National Lottery), put it, "this exciting draw will also be making 10 guaranteed UK millionaires through the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker. Make sure to get your tickets early to be in with a chance to win!" reported Manchester Evening News. For these fortunate individuals, the win is tax-free and potentially transformative, offering the chance to pay off debts, travel the world, or give generously to loved ones and good causes.

The process for big winners is both secure and supportive. Allwyn has a dedicated team of winners’ advisors who step in as soon as a winning ticket is confirmed. They offer a range of services, from expert financial guidance to emotional support. Andy Carter emphasized, "Everyone dreams of that huge win when they buy their National Lottery ticket - and for those lucky enough to experience it, we’re here to make sure it’s a positive and secure journey. From financial advice to emotional support, our role is to help winners take control of their new future with confidence." (Liverpool Echo).

For those who came close but didn’t hit the jackpot, there were still substantial secondary prizes on offer. Matching five numbers and one Lucky Star netted £130,554.30, while matching five numbers alone brought in £13,561.20. Even matching fewer numbers could result in smaller, yet still significant, cash prizes. The structure of EuroMillions ensures that while the jackpot gets the headlines, thousands of players share in the winnings each draw, as detailed by Wales Online.

For those who didn’t win, hope springs eternal. The National Lottery runs several games throughout the week. In addition to EuroMillions and Thunderball, there’s Lotto every Wednesday and Saturday, and Set For Life on Mondays and Thursdays, offering regular opportunities for players to try their luck. The next Lotto jackpot, for instance, was a £3.8 million rollover, keeping the excitement alive for regular participants (Chronicle Live).

The appeal of the lottery, of course, extends far beyond the possibility of instant riches. For many, it’s the thrill of participation, the communal sense of anticipation, and the tantalizing possibility that their numbers might just come up. As Liverpool Echo noted, the National Lottery is a moment that can change lives forever, whether through a modest windfall or a multimillion-pound jackpot. And with the operator’s commitment to guiding winners through their new reality, the journey from ordinary to extraordinary is well supported.

It’s worth noting, too, that the National Lottery regularly appeals for winners to come forward, especially when tickets are bought in specific regions. For example, earlier in January, the National Lottery sought the winner of a EuroMillions ticket purchased in the Greater Manchester borough of Wigan, a reminder that sometimes life-changing news is just a check away (Wales Online).

As the dust settles on another dramatic EuroMillions draw, the stories of anticipation, hope, and—at least for ten new millionaires—triumph continue to capture the public’s imagination. For everyone else, there’s always the next draw, and with jackpots routinely reaching into the tens or even hundreds of millions, the dream lives on.