A LOTTO winner who scooped a whopping £7.5million has revealed how he went “barmy” after landing the jackpot.
Roy Gibney, 69, said he sold his car to a mate for a quid and splashed a massive chunk of cash on a sprawling mansion.
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But now, 25 years after his win, Roy has sold his giant home and now lives in a five-bed semi in Grimsby, Lincs, with his third wife Tracy Baker, 63.
And he says quitting the high-rolling lifestyle is the best decision he’s ever made, adding: “Being married is better than winning the lottery”.
The couple even celebrated getting wed at their local pub surrounded by just eight people, and Tracy still works five days a week even though they still have plenty of cash in the bank.
Roy, a former sheet metal worker, won the massive jackpot in July 1998.
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He quickly splurged on a six-bedroom mansion which had a swimming pool tiled with his winning numbers.
Roy’s 25-acre property in Barnoldby-le-Beck, Lincs, came with its own fishing lake, a fully-equipped gym, steam room, hot tub and all-weather tennis court.
But he admitted going “barmy” after landing the fortune.
The first thing he did was sell his car to a pal — for a quid.
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Roy then splashed out on a red Lexus LS300, which he still owns, and his mansion.
He spent £500,000 doing it up, adding the swimming pool, a bar, a snooker table, a poker table and roulette table.
Roy said: “At the start I went at it at a million miles an hour, like you would. I lived the high life and partied.
“When the pool was put in, they asked what I wanted on the bottom. I said, ‘I don’t bloody know’. They suggested Roy Gibney, the date and my numbers. I said, ‘slap it in’.
“I was loving it, but I was also targeted by crooks.”
He ended up selling the sprawling house for more than £1.1m and trading in for the smaller home near his favourite pub.
But despite living the life that others dream of, Roy was happy to give it up – especially with teaching assistant Tracy by his side.
The 69-year-old said: “I live a modest lifestyle now.
“It’s not the life I had when I won but I much prefer it this way.
“Now I’m in a smaller house in the middle of Grimsby and it’s perfect.
“I wanted to be near people and now I am.”
‘SHE CHANGED MY LIFE MORE THAN THE WIN’
Despite downsizing, the snooker fanatic told how he is “the happiest I’ve ever been” after reconnecting with Tracy.
The couple, who had briefly dated in 2004, wed in front of just eight guests in 2019.
Roy’s previous married second wife Darlene Shand, 49, at a castle in the Scottish Highlands.
The couple split acrimoniously in 2015 – with Darlene keeping a £350,000 home in Scotland, a car, caravan and £50,000.
He said: “Tracy changed my life far more than a lottery win did.
“I’d sooner have my wife than winning the lottery.
“She’s so fantastic and we’re so happy.
“We are so close to each other and we don’t go barmy – we’ve stayed sensible.”
‘SOME THINGS MONEY CAN’T BUY’
Roy said they live in a nice house, which they both love, adding: “It’s not the life I had. But I much prefer it.
“There are some things money just can’t buy, aren’t there?”
Roy and Tracy, who still own a holiday villa in Cyprus, married in a registry office on her 59th birthday before celebrating at their local, the Livesey Arms.
Roy said: “I got married in a castle last time, this time it was in a pub.
“Tracy said she didn’t want to treat it like a wedding – we just wanted to go and have fun with our friends.
“Not only is she absolutely beautiful but she is so down to earth.
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“She doesn’t have to go to school to work at all – but she wants to. She loves all the kids and the kids love her.
“We have a wonderful relationship and that’s something a lottery win can never guarantee.”
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