London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Mar 14, 2026

Lotto winner dubbed 'UK's most eligible bachelor' back at work after wife split

Lotto winner dubbed 'UK's most eligible bachelor' back at work after wife split

THE LOTTERY winner once dubbed Britain's most eligible bachelor is back at work after splitting with his wife.

Karl Crompton, 48, bagged £11million on the Lotto in 1996 and settled down with childhood sweetheart Nicole, while doubling his fortune with savvy investments.

Karl Crompton was seen back at work at a property renovation in Blackpool

Karl Crompton bagged £11 million on the Lotto at age 23 in 1996

Karl was seen hard at work pushing a wheelbarrow of cement

Karl is believed to have split from his childhood sweetheart Nicole

Nowadays Karl is sporting a beard

Karl was later seen driving his Land Rover Discovery

Now the businessman has been pictured for the first time in 14 years getting his hands dirty on a property renovation in Blackpool.

Karl was seen maneuvering a wheelbarrow of cement on the site, looking strikingly similar to his days as the country's most desired stag at age 23 - except now sporting a beard.

He then cooly hopped into his black Land Rover Discovery - just one of his enviable fleet of cars he purchased after his big win.

The ex-Comet manager is now believed to have split from NHS nurse Nicole and quit the £3.6m five-bedroom Gothic-style mansion he built for them in Fylde, Lancs.

The luxurious property included a large pond on the land, as well as a property for his parents, Keith and Pat, at the front.

Karl's childhood sweetheart Nicole was spotted without a ring


Karl spent £3.5m on holidays and cars in the year after his win, before plowing his cash into his buy-to-let property empire - doubling his fortune to a whopping £22m.

The multi-millionaire also snapped up another property in Vancouver, Canada - all of which could be up for grab as he and Nicole did not sign a pre-nup when they married in 2006.

The couple, who share two kids, got together about a year after his huge win - and now Nicole could get half of her hubby's riches.

Karl doubled his money with smart investments and creating a buy-to-let property empire


She was spotted without her ring as she climbed into a Range Rover bought by Karl last year.

Karl earned the nickname 'Rollover Romeo' after his numbers came up when his mum suggested he buy a ticket.

"My mum and dad and brother helped pick some numbers then I went out with my pals," he told the Sunday Mirror.

"The next morning, I came downstairs to the kitchen and my mum said, ‘You’re looking at a lottery winner. I’ve got four numbers and got £96 or something.'

"So I looked at the numbers and my ticket. Even when Camelot later confirmed the numbers, I couldn’t believe I’d won.

"It was £10,903,198 – a half share of the full Lotto rollover prize."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Middle East War Highlights Strategic Importance of Strong UK–Ireland Cooperation
Weak Growth Signals UK Economy Was Faltering Even Before Middle East Energy Shock
Marks & Spencer Tops UK Fashion Retail Rankings as Most Considered Brand
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Royal Navy to Acquire Twenty Uncrewed Surface Vessels for Autonomous Warfare Testing
Russia Summons British and French Envoys After Ukrainian Storm Shadow Strike on Strategic Facility
Starmer Confirms Britain Will Maintain Sanctions on Russia Despite U.S. Policy Shift
UK Moves to Refine AI Definition in Investment Security Reform
UK Economy Stalls in January as Growth Unexpectedly Falls to Zero
Asian Energy Security Tested as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Threatens Oil Supplies
Iran Sets Three Conditions for Ending Regional War as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Tesla Secures Approval to Supply Electricity Directly to Homes Across Britain
Prince William Delivers Tribute to Australia’s Naval Alliance Amid Renewed Royal Spotlight on the Country
UK Foreign Secretary Travels to Saudi Arabia to Reinforce Support for Regional Allies
Putin’s ‘Hidden Hand’ May Be Assisting Iran in Conflict With Trump, UK Defence Secretary Warns
UK Sets April Deadline for Tech Platforms to Strengthen Online Protections for Children
Elon Musk Moves Into Britain’s Energy Market as Tesla Wins Licence to Supply Power
UK Watchdog Warns Fuel Retailers Against Profiteering Amid Iran War Price Surge
Report Claims Iran Used UK Charity Network to Expand Influence
United States and United Kingdom Establish Joint Standards for Counter-Drone Technology
Iran May Be Laying Naval Mines in Strait of Hormuz, UK Warns Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions
US Deploys Bunker-Buster Bombs to UK Airbase as Iran Conflict Intensifies
British Troops in Iraq Intercept Iranian Drones Targeting Coalition Base
Release of Mandelson Files Raises Tensions as UK Seeks Stable Relations With Donald Trump
UK Documents Reveal Starmer Was Warned About Mandelson’s Epstein Links Before Ambassador Appointment
Nearly Five Hundred UK Mortgage Deals Withdrawn in Two Days as Market Volatility Forces Lenders to Reprice
Three Cargo Ships Hit Near Iran as Attacks Spread to Strategic Strait of Hormuz
Why British Police Repeatedly Declined to Investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s UK Links
UK Parliament Ends Hereditary Seats in House of Lords, Closing Chapter on Centuries of Aristocratic Lawmaking
EU and UK Urge Israel to Act Against Rising West Bank Settler Violence Amid Regional Tensions
US Senator John Kennedy Says Keir Starmer Should Not Be Trusted for Military Advice Amid Iran War Debate
UK High Court Rejects Attempt to Revive Terrorism Charge Against Kneecap Rapper
Revolut Secures Full UK Banking Licence After Multi-Year Regulatory Wait
Kentucky’s Bench Boost Powers Wildcats Past LSU in SEC Tournament Opener
British Couple Die After Being Pulled From Water at Australian Beach During Family Visit
Global Energy Agency Announces Record Release of 400 Million Barrels to Stabilize Oil Markets Amid Hormuz Disruption
British Airways Suspends UK Repatriation Flights as Middle East Travel Disruption Deepens
US Forces Prepare Ordnance at RAF Fairford as Strategic Bombers Deploy for Middle East Operations
Nigel Farage Faces Criticism After Saying Britain Should Stay Out of Iran War
Landmark UK Trial Begins Over Sony’s PlayStation Store Pricing
UK High Court Rejects Bid to Challenge Britain’s Chagos Islands Agreement With Mauritius
Finnish Duo Triumphs in England’s Annual Wife-Carrying Race, Winning a Barrel of Ale
How U.S. and UK National Security Strategies Are Reshaping the Global Business Landscape
Green Party Gains Momentum as Labour Shifts Toward the Political Centre
Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Dragon Sets Sail for Eastern Mediterranean as Regional Tensions Rise
UK Homebuilder Persimmon Warns Iran Conflict Could Dent Property Buyer Confidence
Roman Abramovich Signals Legal Fight if UK Seeks to Seize Chelsea Sale Funds
×