20/07/2025
The Story of the Garbage Man Won £10 Million Squandered Everything Now Back to Picking Garbage
Here’s the story of Michael Carroll, the British binman who won nearly £10 million and ended up back at garbage collecting:
A Wild Rise and Fall: The Tale of Michael Carroll
At 19, Michael Carroll was working as a refuse collector in Norfolk, UK, when he won £9.7 million in the National Lottery in November 2002 .
Dubbed the tabloid “Lotto Lout” and self-proclaimed “King of Chavs,” Carroll indulged in a whirlwind of partying—cars, drugs, prostitutes, and reckless spending quickly depleted his fortune .
He gave massive cash gifts to friends and family, bought luxury toys, and even invested in Rangers FC—but it all spiraled. By 2006 he’d served jail time, and within a few years, the cash was gone .
By 2010, completely broke, Carroll had to reapply for his old garbage man job and was living off benefits. He later worked in a biscuit factory and delivering coal, making minimum wage—recognizing that “going broke is the best thing that happened to me”—he claims .
A recent 2025 summary shows that at 41, he continued to work long shifts—sober, debt-free, and living a quieter life, though still far from the millionaire he once was .
📌 Why “Carol the Garbage Man” Became a Cautionary Legend
Factor Outcome
Sudden Wealth, No Preparation At 19, Carroll had little financial literacy to manage 🔥
Extravagant Lifestyle Lavish parties, drugs, and gifts burned through money fast
Poor Advice Trusting hangers-on and making risky investments backfired
Legal & Personal Turmoil Multiple offenses, jail, and personal crises speeded the fall
Eventually Returned to Work Accepted his former life and focused on stability
What People Say
From Reddit:
“It was a big party… eventually … in the end Michael Carroll was out of money. Now Michael is working as lumberjack and coalman.”
“Going broke is the best thing that happened to me … I just stood and watched.”
🧠 Reflection: Lessons from Carroll’s Journey
1. Money alone doesn't buy happiness or wisdom. Without guidance, a lot disappears fast.
2. Financial education and planning matter—especially for young winners.
3. Avoid trusting the wrong circle. Hangers-on drain more than just your wallet.
4. Returning to work can rebuild purpose. For Michael, stability outweighed chaos.
Michael Carroll’s life after winning millions was a rollercoaster of fame, excess, and hard downfall. But eventually, he returned to honest work and a simpler life—sober, reflective, and free of illusions. He claims no regrets, saying that losing it all taught him more than any fortune ever could.