Lara and Roger Griffiths

Lara and Roger Griffiths in West Yorkshire, UK, were a happily married couple of 14 years when they won a National Lottery prize of more than $2.37 million in 2005. According to all reports, they seldom argued. However, earning such a large quantity of money seems to drive a stake straight through the heart of their relationship. Initially, their spending was predictable: a large house, a Porsche for Roger, and a Lexus for Lara.

They took several lavish vacations, staying at 5-star hotels. Roger quit his job and spent around $33,000 producing a record with a band he'd performed with in university - a session that amounted to one single track. Despite spending $2,000 a month on a publicist, the single only sold 600 copies. There were also Louis Vuitton shopping excursions and private schooling for their two daughters. Instead of cutting back, the pair grew increasingly lavish.

Roger thought he'd dabble in real estate without any expertise or understanding, and Lara once ran a beauty shop, but all of their ventures failed miserably, especially when the real estate market plummeted. The marriage was crumbling under the pressure, and then a bizarre accident caused by a malfunctioning boiler sparked a fire that destroyed their new house. By 2011, the couple had divorced, with all of their money gone, only one home remaining, and a big mortgage to pay.

Lottery Winning Year: 2005

Nationality: British