John McGuinness won £10 million when his lottery numbers came up in January 1997. He was earning £150 per week working as a hospital porter and sleeping on his parents’ floor when he hit the jackpot.

Understandably, he lavished over £3 million on gifts for his family and snapped up a £140,000 Ferrari Modena Spyder and a £500,000 seafront apartment in Majorca for himself. He also embarked on Caribbean cruises, five star ski trips and holidays around the world.

Riches to rags 

Sadly for McGuinness, he now finds himself in serious debt and looking for a job all because he accepted an invitation to join the board of Scottish first division side Livingston FC. Thanks in part to McGuinness’ investment, the club initially enjoyed huge success, finishing 3rd in the Scottish Premier League, winning the Scottish League Cup and enjoying a reputation-enhancing UEFA Cup run.

But the club’s success on-field was not mirrored in the boardroom. Livingston went into administration in February 2004. Mr McGuinness had used his personal fortune to guarantee club loans and they were called in. With huge legal costs adding to his debts, he currently owes £2.1m to the Royal Bank of Scotland, is said to have no money left and is about to have his house repossessed.

With his life of luxury now a distant memory, McGuinness is preparing to return to work. His wife Sandra, a former nurse, is thought to have enrolled on a hairdressing course to help make ends meet.