When he won £11m lottery jackpot in 1996 he was dubbed Britain’s most eligible bachelor. Now he is grey, grizzled and divorced – and wearing a Donald Trump hat

• Karl Crompton, 50, let grey locks flow as he played a round of golf with friends
• He was one of the earliest jackpot winners when he won his millions back in 1996

He was once dubbed Britain’s most eligible bachelor after bagging £11 million in the National Lottery when he was just 23. But after 27 years that included a divorce from his childhood sweetheart, the man once known as ‘Rollover Romeo’ has been spotted looking grizzled and grey. 

Karl Crompton, now 50, was snapped letting his grey locks flow as he played a round of golf with his friends at a course near Preston whilst donning a red Trump cap.

Crompton was one of the earliest jackpot winners when he scooped up his millions back in 1996.

The then-trainee at highstreet electrical goods store Comet had been earning around £100 a week shortly before he was thrust into the spotlight to gather his new-found riches.

But now, almost three decades on, the father-of-two has been snapped hitting some balls with his friends and dragging his golf clubs around.

Karl Crompton, 50, was snapped letting his grey locks flow as he played a round of golf with his friends near Preston

Crompton changed his shoes after going for a round of golf with his friends at a course near Preston 

Crompton is pictured on a motorbike in 2001 as part of BBC series ‘Secret Life of Happiness’ 

Wearing a blue polo, Crompton appeared to embrace his political side as he tucked his flowing grey hair underneath a red baseball camp supporting former President Donald Trump. 

Now bearded, the former retail worker is thought to have more than doubled his money since taking home his initial winnings.

Thanks to wise investments and an extensive property portfolio – including a £2 million home in Fylde, Lancashire – the former ‘Rollover Romeo’ is now thought to be worth around £22 million.

A decade after his jackpot win, Crompton married his childhood sweetheart Nicole Roach in 2006. They had known each other since they were at school together in Blackpool.

Roach had a boyfriend at the time of the jackpot Crompton eventually got together with the nurse around 12 months later. The couple later had two sons, Ethan and Jenson.

The Sun reported in 2020 that the two had split and Crompton no longer wore his wedding ring. It is believed that the now-aged lottery winner is single.

Crompton was living with his parents in a three-bedroom semi around five miles from Blackpool when his numbers came up in May 1996.

He told the Sunday Mirror that it was his family who initially encouraged him to buy a lottery ticket in the first place.

Crompton frowned as he tied his grey hair back and retrieved his golf clubs from his car

Now bearded, the former retail worker is thought to have more than doubled his money since taking home his initial winnings

Crompton enjoyed a round of golf with his friends at a course near Preston whilst donning a red Trump cap

Wearing a blue polo, Crompton appeared to embrace his political side as he tucked his flowing grey hear underneath a red baseball camp supporting former President Donald Trump

Crompton looked into the distance as he was spotted on a round of golf with his friends

Thanks to wise investments and an extensive property portfolio, the amature golfer is now thought to be worth around £22 million

Crompton stepped back and carried the golf flag for his friend as while he putted his ball

Crompton, wearing a blue polo shirt and red Trump supporting cap, swung his golf club

Crompton bends down to place down a marker as he enjoys a round of golf with friends

The father-of-two has been snapped hitting some balls with his friends and dragging his golf clubs around

After almost three decades since winning the lottery, Crompton was spotted with grey hair and a Trump cap

He recalled: ‘My mum and dad and brother helped pick some numbers then I went out with my pals.

‘The next morning, I came downstairs to the kitchen and my mum said, “You’re looking at a lottery winner. I’ve got four numbers and got £96 or something.”

‘So I looked at the numbers and my ticket. Even when Camelot later confirmed the numbers, I couldn’t believe I’d won.

‘It was £10,903,198 – a half share of the full Lotto rollover prize’ 

In the year following his win, the former £100-a-week Comet trainee blew £3.5 million of his jackpot on luxury cars including Porsches and Ferraris as well as fancy holidays.

In 1999, he bought 11 acres in Elswick in rural Lancashire for £500,000 and demolished a former hospital on the site.

Crompton then spent £1.5 million building a 6,500 sq ft, five-bedroom house in traditional brick and stone, with a pool, security and entertainment systems.

He moved into the house with Roach and their first son Ethan in 2001, and bought eight buy-to-let properties in the surrounding area.

Then in the summer of 2004, the couple spent £250,000 on a 16-year-old house in Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver, one hour from Whistler ski resort in Canada.

The three-bedroom contemporary property is set into a rock face with spectacular views – but the couple rented it out rather than using it as a holiday home.

Mr Crompton (left) and his childhood sweetheart Nicole Roach (right), married in 2006 but have since split

Crompton is pictured outside his five-bedroom mansion in Lancashire back in June 2007

Mr Crompton (centre), his parents Patricia and Keith (back and right) and his brother Sean (left) celebrate the National Lottery win at Moor Park Golf Club in Rickmansworth in 1996

Mr Crompton (pictured in May 1996) was a £100-a-week Comet trainee before his lottery win

Crompton is now believed to live with his two children in a five-bedroom Gothic-style mansion just outside of Blackpool, The Mirror reported.

The lottery winner previously told the Sunday Mirror in 2009 how he had mellowed since the early days of his big win.

‘You could say I’ve been there, done that. Now I’m happy just to wear the T-shirt,’ Crompton told the publication at the time.

‘I’ve got a Golf and people keep asking ask me, “Why haven’t you got a Ferrari?” But that’s just not me anymore. I’m married with two kids and I’ve got everything I want.

‘Why would I want to go out and buy all that stuff again? Once I was sitting in a Bentley in a showroom when the salesman came over, looked me up and down and told me, “that car is sold”. I went, “Oh sorry”, and got out.

‘Then I said, “I’m just waiting for the salesman to bring me the Ferrari that was here because I’ve just bought it.” You should have seen his face.’

Crompton was spotted at a golf club on the outskirts of Preston for a round of 9 holes

Crompton held onto his car as he changed out from his golf shoes and into a pair of trainers

Crompton tied his laces as he made the most out of his day playing golf with friends near Preston

Crompton embraced his political side as he was pictured wearing a red Trump baseball cap

Crompton chatted with a friend as he packed his golf kit into his car after a round with pals

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