Dean Weymes, the first-ever winner of the National Lottery: Set For Life to go public, will receive $12,000 every month for the next thirty years.
Dean, 24, a former Amazon employee, had never imagined about such a life changer. He hadn’t even checked the results of the lottery on the day it was announced.
He went to work at 7 am as usual and didn’t check the winners’ list till his first break.
And as soon as he checked it, he realized that: “I don’t have to be here if I don’t want to be here.”
“I take my first break after 11 am, I went out, got my phone out and checked my numbers, and found out I had won,” Dean said.
“My break is 15 minutes, but I think I did a break abuse, I think by about 10 minutes. I went back in, sat on my computer for five minutes, and said ‘I’m sick’ and went home.
“The following day I went in to quit, I went to HR and said I have to leave, they said to fill out the form, which said ‘why are you leaving?’
“I wrote ‘won Lottery/retirement?’ and they were like ‘you can’t put this down’ – I think they thought I was putting a joke reason.”
Dean said the money would help him in providing his brother with the medical aid he requires due to severe autism.
“Robert has severe autism – it is about as serious as it gets. He is mainly non-verbal, but can say a few names and certain words, but he is like a baby,” he said about his 23-year-old brother.
“He is 6’3 tall and quite stocky, and he can get aggressive, and he can hurt himself and others. He grabs a hold of you and it is very difficult. He takes it out on himself. It’s tough.
“My parents (Tom and Paula) are getting on a bit now, so it is difficult for them.
“If they could have regular services that they could even have a break so it is not 24/7. Just to have the best trained professionals to take care of him would make the world of difference.”
The lottery winner, from Peterborough, holds a degree in Video and Film from Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland.
He had always dreamed to pursue a career in the film industry but had to work extra shifts and weekends in Amazon for a comfortable living.
But now, as he doesn’t fear financial instability, he plans to become a screenwriter and fulfill his lifelong dreams.
During his university, Dean made a documentary, The Thief, on his autistic brother which, according to him, went viral in Ireland.
Dean is also planning trips to Disneyland Paris and will also be taking a skydive and balloon ride.
He said: “I have a trip already booked for Disneyland Paris with my sister, brother-in-law and nephew – and this win will mean lots of extra spending money. I am now worry free for the rest of my life!”
Just three persons have won the top prize before Dean, ever since the lottery was launched in March, and he is the only one of them to reveal his identity.
“It is just incredible. I am 24 and I am now literally set for life!” an overjoyed Dean said.