Adrian Bayford, the 54-year-old EuroMillions winner who took home £148 million in 2012, is set to leave behind his sprawling seven-bedroom country estate. Bayford, who won the fortune with his then-wife Gillian, plans to move into a smaller, more modest home with his fiancée, Tracey Biles, and his 80-year-old mother.
Bayford, once a postman, is moving into a nearby four-bedroom cottage that he purchased for his mother. A close friend told The Sun that Bayford wants to “downsize and lead a simpler life,” aiming to return to a lifestyle similar to the one he had before his life changed dramatically with the lottery win.
The Grade II-listed mansion, purchased with his ex-wife Gillian and where he also experienced personal separations, is now filled with what a friend described as “bad memories.” The friend added, “He loves Tracey. He loves his mum, so it makes sense for them all to move in together.”
Bayford and Biles, who are set to marry this summer, previously tried to sell their country home for £12 million in 2023. However, they were forced to take the property off the market after it failed to attract buyers.
Bayford had also been planning a major project for the estate—a children’s theme park. The proposed development would have covered 20 acres and included educational facilities, a train ride, a renewable energy-themed play barn, a maze, and a children’s learning center on sustainability. The plans had faced significant criticism, with local residents and officials expressing concerns about flooding risks, traffic congestion, and the impact on the rural landscape.
Despite his initial support for the idea, Bayford pulled back from the project after it faced intense opposition. A parish council had warned that the theme park could harm the nearby walled garden, while an urban design consultation criticized the project for disrupting the rural character of the area.
Bayford’s estate also includes a large vineyard, covering six football fields, where he planted Meunier grape vines. The vineyard was intended as a potential income source, with hopes that it could become a lucrative business in the future.
In addition to the vineyard, Bayford previously rented out a private cottage on his estate on Airbnb. The three-bedroom cottage, located just 240 feet from his mansion, was listed for £110 per night. The Airbnb venture earned Bayford a significant amount, reportedly equivalent to what he earns in interest from his £148 million jackpot every 13 minutes.
Despite the high-profile nature of his wealth, Bayford seems to be embracing a simpler lifestyle. In the past, he attracted large crowds to his “mini Glastonbury” festival on his estate, but now he seems focused on returning to a quieter, more grounded existence.
