Multi-millionaire taxi driver Amo Riselli who scooped £25m in lottery win kept ticket in glovebox for days

He is planning to retire and throw a big bash for his taxi colleagues
Taxi driver Amo Riselli, 50, with his daughters celebrating the win at a National Lottery photo call.
PA
Francesca Gillett3 January 2018

A multi-millionaire taxi driver who scooped a £25 million lottery jackpot revealed he kept the ticket in his car glove box for two days before realising his mammoth win.

Amo Riselli, 50, has decided to retire and host a big bash for all his taxi colleagues after winning the loot in last Wednesday’s Lotto draw just two days after Christmas.

He was the second taxi driver to win big on the National Lottery on the same day, after transgender Melissa Ede also won £4 million on a scratch card.

Mr Riselli, from Gloucester, won the jackpot despite not having all six numbers in the must-be-won draw. No ticket holder had the full set so the jackpot rolled down the next person who had matched five numbers and the bonus ball.

Mr Riselli surrounded by his family and friends.
PA

The father-of-five, whose parents are originally from Italy, said he always buys three lines for the Wednesday and Saturday draws.

After checking his tickets at his local shop, Mr Riselli ran next door to his sister Lisa's hair salon and excitedly told her the news, initially thinking he had pocketed £240,000.

The taxi driver jumps jubilantly as he goes public with his win.
PA

He said: "I try to get my tickets checked in the same shop and I have always said: 'One day this machine is going to start smoking red hot because I will have hit the big one.'

"I can't believe that it's actually happened to me for real! I then called my brother Marco. I was shaking like a leaf and I told him I'd won £240k.

Taxi driver Amo Riselli, 50, celebrating after his jackpot win.
PA

"He said he didn't understand how that could be as he'd already checked his own ticket and didn't remember that winning amount.

"He asked what numbers I'd got and when I told him he cried: 'You've won the whole jackpot of £24 million.'

The multi-millionaire's current home in Calton Road, Gloucester.
PA

"It's an amazing feeling and I'm absolutely over the moon."

After first breaking the news to all his family, including mum Maria, 80, Mr Riselli rang Camelot to confirm his win details.

Mr Riselli, 50, celebrating with his sister Lisa.
PA

The ticket was kept in a glass jar in the cupboard and regularly checked to make sure it was still there before the £24,501,283 was claimed.

"I will miss all my friends at work as we really have a laugh together, but I've decided I'm going to retire - just because now I can," he said.

Mr Riselli is planning on moving house after treating his family and friends with a big thank-you party for all his colleagues from the Grosvenor taxi rank, where he was self-employed for 12 years.

He wants a four bedroom home with a swimming pool but still in the Gloucester area, where he has lived all of his life.

A holiday to Las Vegas is on the cards, but more than anything else, Mr Riselli said he just wants to have a great time with his family.

"I'm not going to play the lottery any more, as I've already conquered that 'big win' - it is someone else's turn now," he said.

"I may now be a multi-millionaire but I am still the same normal person I always was, just with a bit more loose change in my pocket."

Taxi driver Melissa Ede, 57, celebrating during a photocall at Willerby Manor Hotel in Hull.
PA

Also discovering she had been made a multi-millionaire was taxi driver Melissa Ede, 57, who won £4 million on a scratch card.

She said her and her fiancée’s lives will “change forever” and she is planning to write her autobiography.

Taxi driver Melissa Ede, 57, with her £4 million win.
National Lottery

She said: “The transgender fight to where I am now has been a difficult path. I received my operation almost seven years ago and I am really proud of who I am today.

"I now want to help others in similar situations and believe my autobiography will do just this. What a fairytale ending. It is all just like a dream."

On New Year’s Eve she teased her social media followers with the words: “As 2017 comes to an end I would just love to say, you really ain’t seen nothing yet.”

She added: “I will prove the impossible is actually possible. Stay tuned.”

The two winners celebrated at a press conference in Willerby, near Hull, on Wednesday.

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