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How £11M lotto winner became recluse in £165k flat & cut family from will

29 June 2024 , 12:14
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Paul Maddison briefly lived in a castle, but soon moved out into a much smaller property
Paul Maddison briefly lived in a castle, but soon moved out into a much smaller property

A LOTTERY winner scooped an £11million jackpot - but moved 500 miles away to live in recluse and cut his daughters from his will.

Paul Maddison was working as a double-glazing salesman when he landed the huge sum in 1995.

Paul Maddison celebrating his share of the winnings in 1995 qhiqqhiqutiqxdprw
Paul Maddison celebrating his share of the winnings in 1995Credit: Alamy
Paul (left) and his then wife Ruth alongside Mark Gardiner (right) and his partner Brenda
Paul (left) and his then wife Ruth alongside Mark Gardiner (right) and his partner BrendaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Paul was living in a small property at the time of his death, despite his wealth
Paul was living in a small property at the time of his death, despite his wealthCredit: Right Move

Having initially bought a castle with his winnings, he eventually downsized and was living in a £165,000 flat when he died aged 73 in November.

Paul had £3.8m of his fortune left at the time of his death, new documents have revealed, but has chosen to leave his estate to his sister-in-law and given a large chunk to the taxman.

Aside from the first £325,000, the £3.8m sum has been hit by inheritance tax - leaving the total value at £2.45m.

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And despite having a son, two daughters and a sister, the beneficiary of Paul's will is named as Thelma Todd.

She is the sister of his fourth wife Evelyn, who died in early 2023.

Thelma lived in a £197,000 home just round the corner from where Paul was living at the time of his death, MailOnline reports.

Legal experts claim daughters Sasha and Stacey are entitled to claim up to 25 per cent of any cash and possessions he owns.

But only in the event of his sister-in-law's death can the daughters, both of whom live in Sussex, inherit his entire estate.

There is also no mention of Paul's son or wives from his previous three marriages in the documents.

He is understood to have owned four properties in Perth totalling around £865,000 along with five bank accounts containing roughly £3m.

Paul is also said to have had household and personal assets worth sround £4,685.

Paul was 44 when he shared the £22.6m jackpot with then business partner Mark Gardiner in 1995 - then Britain's biggest lottery win.

But while his business partner chose to live a life of luxury, Paul decided to move 500 miles away from his home in Hastings up to Scotland.

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Mark continued to run their business, but Paul chose to retire immediately.

At the time, Paul was married to third wife Ruth, while his two daughters came from his first marriage.

They had married in Perth seven years prior to the lottery win and decided to move their permanently with some of the money.

The couple moved into a six-bed mansion, but Ruth reportedly left their strained marriage for another man with a £1m settlement.

His fourth wife Evelyn initially worked at the mansion as a cleaner, but the pair grew close and married in Mauritius in 1997.

Paul eventually sold the large property and bought his own 16th century castle near Dumfries.

It contained an indoor swimming pool, gym, six reception rooms and an indoor riding arena.

But he soon moved out of the 40-acre property, choosing to rent it out while living in a £450,000 house instead.

Paul is also understood to have owned a £400,000 four-bed and a garden worth £75,000 in the city.

But by the time of his death, though, Paul had moved into an even smaller property.

Neighbours recalled how he was "famously stingy", with no signs of any expensive cars parked in the vicinity.

Instead, he would "never be first to the bar" and would rarely leave his home.

Former business partner Mark also described how Paul watched his money "like a hawk" and wasn't surprised to hear how he was "living very frugally".

Paul alongside then business partner Mark
Paul alongside then business partner MarkCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
He owner a number of properties, including this bungalow
He owner a number of properties, including this bungalowCredit: Right Move

Jamie Phillips

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