EuroMillions winner abandons mansion to live with mother after winning £148m
Adrian Bayford, a EuroMillions winner who secured a massive £148 million jackpot in 2012 alongside his then-wife Gillian, has made a surprising decision to leave his luxurious mansion and move in with his 80-year-old mother. The 54-year-old former postman is choosing to downsize, leaving behind the extravagant seven-bedroom country home he shared with his fiancée Tracey Biles to relocate to his mother’s modest four-bedroom house, which he had purchased for his parents. According to a friend quoted by The Sun, Adrian is opting for a simpler life and wishes to return to his pre-lottery days by moving in with his mother, as the mansion holds painful memories from his past relationships.
Adrian, who recently got engaged to Tracey, split from Gillian just 15 months after their record-breaking win. He had been trying to sell his £12.3 million mansion located on the outskirts of Cambridge, where he had also established a vineyard and hosted events like the Cambridge Rock Festival. The music festival featured approximately 60 rock bands and extended until 11 pm each night, with ticket prices ranging from £129 to £159.
In 2023, Adrian was compelled to cancel the Cambridge Rock Festival after the local council denied him a license. Despite obtaining permission to convert his 17th-century farmhouse into a holiday rental back in 2014, plans to construct a theme park on 20 acres of his vast estate faced opposition from the council. The proposal, which included a maze, train ride, and car park, was rejected for being too “urban” in a rural setting, with concerns about the impact on the surrounding countryside’s character.
The rejection was based on critiques from BNE Urban Design, stating that the development failed to integrate well with the rural landscape and caused a shift away from its natural character through increased foot traffic and car dependency. An Environmental Health officer also raised concerns about potential nuisance to nearby residents from the proposed commercial premises.
Despite his ambitious plans for the estate, Adrian’s decision to move in with his mother indicates a shift towards a more low-key and family-oriented lifestyle. By simplifying his living arrangements and focusing on his relationships with his loved ones, it seems that Adrian is prioritizing personal happiness and well-being over material possessions and grand ventures.