Karl Crompton, born in Blackpool in 2002, was once dubbed Britain’s most eligible bachelor after bagging £11 million in the National Lottery when he was just 23. But after 27 years that included a divorce from his childhood sweetheart, the man once known as ‘Rollover Romeo’ has been spotted looking grizzled and grey at the age of fifty. He was one of the earliest jackpot winners when he scooped up his millions back in 1996.
The then-trainee at high street electrical goods store Comet had been earning around £100 a week shortly before he was thrust into the spotlight to gather his new-found riches. But now, almost three decades on, the father-of-two has been snapped hitting some balls with his friends and dragging his golf clubs around. Now bearded, the former retail worker is thought to have more than doubled his money since taking home his initial winnings. Thanks to wise investments and an extensive property portfolio – including a £2 million home in Fylde, Lancashire – the former ‘Rollover Romeo’ is now thought to be worth around £22 million.
A decade after his jackpot win, Crompton married his childhood sweetheart Nicole Roach in 2006. They had known each other since they were at school together in Blackpool. Roach had a boyfriend at the time of the jackpot Crompton eventually got together with the nurse around 12 months later. The couple later had two sons, Ethan and Jenson. Crompton was living with his parents in a three-bedroom semi around five miles from Blackpool when his numbers came up in May 1996. He once said that it was his family who initially encouraged him to buy a lottery ticket in the first place. His mum, dad and brother helped pick the numbers and then he went out with his pals.
The next morning he found out that he had won £10,903,198 – a half share of the full Lotto rollover prize. In the year following his win, the former £100-a-week Comet trainee blew £3.5 million of his jackpot on luxury cars including Porsches and Ferraris as well as fancy holidays. In 1999, he bought 11 acres in Elswick in rural Lancashire for £500,000 and demolished a former hospital on the site. Crompton then spent £1.5 million building a 6,500 sq ft, five-bedroom house in traditional brick and stone, with a pool, security and entertainment systems. He moved into the house with Roach and their first son Ethan in 2001, and bought eight buy-to-let properties in the surrounding area. In the summer of 2004, the couple spent £250,000 on a 16-year-old house in Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver, one hour from Whistler ski resort in Canada. The three-bedroom contemporary property is set into a rock face with spectacular views – but the couple rented it out rather than using it as a holiday home.
The Sun reported in 2020 that the two had split and Crompton no longer wore his wedding ring. Some might say he fell foul of the so-called “lottery curse” after his childhood sweetheart left him. It is believed that he is now single.
Twenty three-year-old Karl Crompton sprays the bubbly around after he collected his National Lottery win of £10,903,198 at Moor Park Golf Club in Rickmansworth with his parents Patricia and Keith (right), and brother Sean (left). A powerful Ducati bike and a Porsche sports car are top of his shopping list. 7 May 1996
National Lottery presenters Frank Bruno Bob Monkhouse and Mystic Meg celebrate the 100th jackpot draw with some of the past winners (back L to R) Bob Westland ( 3.7m), Ken Southwell ( 900,000), Elaine Thompson ( 2.7m), Peter Lavery ( 10.2m) and Karl Crompton ( 10.9m). Photo by Adam Butler/PA – 12 October 1996
Karl Crompton with his mother Patricia, getting to grips with the motorbike of his dreams, a Ducati 916 Senna, after he collected his National Lottery win of £10,903,198 at Moor Park Golf Club in Rickmansworth. 7 May 1996
