On Friday, June 13, 2025, the UK witnessed a historic moment in lottery history as the EuroMillions jackpot soared to a staggering £208 million, the highest prize ever offered in the country. This colossal sum, capped at €250 million (equivalent to £208 million), marked the third time the jackpot had reached its maximum limit, setting the stage for what could be a record-breaking win for a lucky player.
The EuroMillions draw, held twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays, had no jackpot winner on Tuesday, June 10, causing the prize to roll over and accumulate to this unprecedented amount. The anticipation was palpable across the UK and Europe, with players eager for a chance to claim the life-changing fortune.
Adding to the excitement, the National Lottery operator Allwyn introduced a special twist for this Friday the 13th draw, traditionally considered an unlucky day. Instead of the usual single £1 million prize in the UK Millionaire Maker game, 13 players were guaranteed to become millionaires, each receiving £1 million. This expansion of the Millionaire Maker prize was a nod to the date and offered more opportunities for players to win big.
Moreover, players who purchased two or more tickets for the EuroMillions draw were automatically entered into a separate draw to win one of 13 luxury holidays for two to Thailand, further sweetening the pot on this special day.
The winning EuroMillions numbers announced for the June 13 draw were 2, 28, 40, 43, and 45, with Lucky Stars 3 and 7. The UK Millionaire Maker winners were identified by the codes: ZNZP75021, TNBC30976, HNBR22291, HNBG00357, XNBL07259, VNZV56928, HNBZ00729, VNBF50450, MNBC35019, ZNBP60221, JNZZ66637, HNZR99573, and HMZR34844.
In addition to the EuroMillions draw, the Thunderball lottery also took place on the same evening, offering a top prize of £500,000. The winning Thunderball numbers were 1, 2, 24, 33, and 39, with the Thunderball number 13.
Andy Carter, advisor at Allwyn, highlighted the significance of the jackpot, stating, "A win of this magnitude would create the biggest National Lottery winner this country has ever seen - making a single UK winner instantly richer than the likes of Dua Lipa and Harry Kane while also landing them at the number one spot on the National Lottery’s biggest wins list." He also explained the jackpot's cap mechanism: "The EuroMillions jackpot is now capped, so any money that would have gone into increasing the jackpot now boosts prizes in the next winning prize tier, meaning that we could see multiple UK players banking huge prizes for matching just the five main numbers and one Lucky Star."
This cap means that if the jackpot is not won after five draws at its maximum value, a 'Must Be Won' draw occurs. In such a scenario, if no ticket matches all five main numbers and two Lucky Stars, the entire jackpot prize cascades down to the next prize tier where winners exist, likely those matching five main numbers and one Lucky Star.
The EuroMillions game requires players to select five numbers from 1 to 50 and two Lucky Star numbers from 1 to 12 to win the jackpot. The Thunderball game involves choosing five numbers from 1 to 39 and one Thunderball number from 1 to 14 for its top prize.
The jackpot's cap at £208 million is a relatively recent feature, designed to prevent the prize from growing indefinitely. Prior to this, the largest UK lottery prize was £195 million, won by an anonymous ticket-holder in July 2022. Another notable win includes Joe and Jess Thwaite from Gloucester, who claimed £184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket in May 2022.
The EuroMillions lottery has a rich history since its first draw on February 7, 2004, organized by France's Française des Jeux, Spain's Loterías y Apuestas del Estado, and the UK's Camelot. Over the years, it has created numerous millionaires and record-breaking jackpots across Europe.
For many, winning the EuroMillions jackpot represents the ultimate dream: the possibility to leave their jobs, clear debts, travel the world, and support family and charitable causes. The £208 million prize on June 13, 2025, was not just a number—it symbolized a life transformed overnight.
Players were advised to participate responsibly, with tickets costing £2.50 each, which includes automatic entry into the UK Millionaire Maker draw. The draws took place at approximately 8:00 pm for Thunderball and 8:30 pm for EuroMillions.
While the jackpot's fate after the June 13 draw remained to be seen, the event itself was a landmark occasion, blending record-breaking prize money with unique promotions to celebrate an otherwise ominous date. For those who didn't win, the anticipation would continue until the next draw on June 17 and the critical 'Must Be Won' draw scheduled for June 20, 2025.
Whether fortune smiled on one or many, the June 13 EuroMillions draw will be remembered as a moment when millions dreamed big, and 13 new UK millionaires were born on a day that defied superstition.
