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'King of the Chavs' Michael Carroll back on the dole after blowing entire £9m Lotto win

Gareth Rubin
Feb 8th 2010 at 7:50AM

Filed under: Entertainment, Weird and Wonderful

You have to hand it to "Lotto Lout" Michael Carroll - aka "Chavvy McChav-Chav" - after managing to squander no less than £9.3 million the former bin man has plucked up the affront to sign on for state benefits.

Eight years ago he turned up to collect his Lottery winnings with an electronic tag on his ankle, imposed after a few two many drunk and disorderly offences.

Since then, he has blown the lot on drugs, car demolition derbies at his home, ladies of the night and laughable jewellery.

So where did it all go wrong, and can we learn anything from his experiences?

Where it went
Of his winnings, £5 million went on family and friends, £1million went on gambling, £250,000 went on drugs, £100,000 went on ladies of easy virtue and £55,000 went on legal fees – not all that surprising given his other habits. He also put £1million into Glasgow Rangers.

"I only started to think about three things - drugs, sex and gold," he explained.

"I would buy these huge necklaces. One cost me around £2,000. All of it was robbed in 2004. There was about £100,000 worth of gold stolen. But the next day I went out and bought it all again."

In 2008, yobs ran him out of his home and he has never been back. It's now empty except for rubbish.

The lessons
Michael reckons the big lesson is that money can't buy happiness. "I'm just glad it's over," the phliosopher claimed. "There were also vultures everywhere after my cash. I started to see what people were really like.

"The party has ended and it's back to reality. I haven't got two pennies to rub together and that's the way I like it. I find it easier to live off £42 dole than a million."

There are all sorts of things that money can't buy: for a start there's taste, restraint, the ability to see beyond the following day, an understanding of the value of money, and an appreciation of how to look after your own future.

Of course, the crumbs of comfort are that if you learn these things, even if you don't have a few million, you should secure a more positive and wealthier future - making the most of what you have.

So now Michael can enjoy his £42 a week and look back at where it all went wrong.

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