In 2009, Luís Lopes led a quiet, unremarkable life as a tiler in Charneca da Caparica, Portugal. He struggled to make ends meet while faithfully contributing to his EuroMillions syndicate—a long-held tradition with his friends. The routine of early mornings, hard work, and exhausted evenings was all he knew until a fateful EuroMillions ticket transformed his destiny overnight.
For years, Luís and his friends bought lottery tickets more out of habit than hope, pocketing modest wins that fueled small celebratory dinners. But everything changed when they hit a jackpot exceeding € 50 million (£41m), with Luís’s share approaching € 8 million (£6.7m), according to the Mirror.
For a man accustomed to a modest life, the win was overwhelming. He was no longer the humble tiler he once was but suddenly a millionaire immersed in luxury. Reflecting on that turning point, he recalls in an interview with Noticias Magazine, “I couldn’t believe it,” Luís recalls in an interview with Noticias Magazine. “I didn’t sleep for 15 days. I just couldn’t. It was anxiety. Something like this changes your life completely.”
In the days that followed, Luís was swept up in a whirlwind of indulgence. He purchased a new house just a few kilometers from his former one, traveled frequently, and lavished money on family and friends. Reminiscing about those heady moments, he states, “I still worked for another two months, but then I quit. I bought houses for my nephews, gave money to my siblings, and traveled everywhere. Wherever Benfica went, I went too.”
However, the newfound wealth soon brought unexpected complications. Strangers began appearing at his door, claiming familiarity and demanding favors. “I had people knocking at my door who I had never seen before. They would tell me they knew me, and my house was always full of people,” he explains. Luís later regretted buying a house too close to his old life, admitting, “Today I wouldn’t buy a house so close. I should have moved further away. It was too much. It became overwhelming.”
As his fortunes began to fade, Luís turned to his lawyer, Sónia Valente, whom he met through a friend. Trusting her completely, he says he “got along well” with her and “gave her full control over my financial affairs. I thought she would take care of everything.” For years, Sónia handled his legal and financial matters, often requesting cash—“Never less than €50,000, all in cash. I had never paid taxes in my life. I didn’t know how things worked. I trusted her.”
In 2018, a friend’s advice to check his tax records exposed shocking discrepancies. Furious at discovering that she had taken over €500,000 from him, Luís filed a complaint for fraud and embezzlement. Sónia Valente, however, denied the claims, stating, “I repudiate all of his accusations,” she said.
“They are false and defamatory. Luís Lopes is responsible for his own financial ruin.” She further blamed Luís’s own behavior—“drugs, women, and a life of idleness and luxury as if money would never run out”—adding, “Luís has never been fond of paying his bills.” The ensuing legal battle ended with a court ruling in her favor, resulting in the seizure of Luís’s assets and the freezing of his bank accounts.
Now, with his wealth diminished, Luís seeks peace. He hopes to resolve his financial mess so he and his current wife can move to Brazil, remarking, “When I worked, I was happier. I didn’t have these headaches.” Reflecting on his turbulent journey, he recalls turning down psychological support from the Department of Santa Casa Jogos: “I was the one who said no. Today, I would’ve at least thought twice about it.” Despite it all, he continues to play the lottery—one €2.5 ticket on Tuesdays and Fridays—holding on to a sliver of hope that fortune might smile upon him again.
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