Darren Summers, a 50-year-old bar manager, has decided to sell the £3.5 million clifftop mansion he won in an Omaze prize draw just one summer after acquiring it. Summers plans to use the proceeds from the sale to retire early and fulfill his lifelong ambition of opening his own pub.
Summers won the four-bedroom property in southeast Cornwall, along with £250,000 in cash, after entering the Omaze draw for £20 in June. He discovered his win while working a shift at the Pencelli Hotel in South Wales, celebrating by offering free drinks to customers. After spending the summer at the seaside home with family and friends, he and his wife, Rebecca, 36, have opted to sell the mortgage-free property.
The couple intends to bank the sale proceeds, retire early, and purchase a smaller coastal home in the UK. They also plan to acquire a holiday home in Europe. Summers is considering investing a portion of his winnings into a bar or restaurant.
The contemporary mansion, situated on over an acre of land above Downderry Beach, features four bedrooms, four bathrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows, terraces, a heated swimming pool, and a hot tub. The property offers panoramic views of the coast.
Summers joins a growing number of Omaze winners who choose to sell their prize homes. Previous winners have cited reasons such as the high maintenance and running costs, or the desire to convert the prize into cash for greater financial flexibility. Omaze maintains that winners sell because the cash offers greater life-changing opportunities, such as early retirement, starting businesses, or purchasing multiple properties, rather than any inability to afford upkeep. The organization states that every grand prize winner receives at least £250,000 in cash, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered. Properties also include furnishings valued at an average of £175,000. Omaze reports having created over 50 millionaires and raised more than £150 million for UK charities.