No Sex, No Travel, No Internet: What Brits Would Do For Big Money
Key insights:
- 37% of Brits would risk everything by entering Squid Game for a shot at £25 million, while 27% might consider it.
- 33% would sacrifice their current romantic relationship for £1 million.
- 55% would quit their jobs immediately if they won £1 million, but only 18% would launch a business right away.
- Over half (55%) would buy a house first with their winnings, while 14% would gift loved ones.
- Nearly half of Brits (48%) fear being overwhelmed by money requests if they suddenly got rich.
As living costs soar and homeownership drifts further out of reach, the fantasy of sudden wealth is hitting harder than ever. But just how far would Brits go to make it real? And if the jackpot landed tomorrow, what would they actually do with it?
Gamblizard asked 2,000 Britons what they’d risk, buy, and fear in the pursuit of big money. The answers reveal more than wishful thinking
Squid Game, cringe, and sacrifice: The extremes UK folks would endure for money
Dignity takes a hit — but the prize is huge. Over a third of Brits (37%) say they’d enter a deadly Squid Game-style contest for a chance at £25 million, while another 27% are on the fence. For many, survival starts to feel transactional — just another price tag with a bigger number.
Public embarrassment? One in four Brits refuses to risk it, no matter the payout. But the rest would take the cringe for the cash: 31% would embarrass themselves for £25 million, 26% for £1 million, and smaller groups for less.
Would they take the prize if it meant someone else lost everything? Turns out, 37% of Brits would say yes without a second thought. Another 50% are willing, depending on who’s on the losing end.
Strings attached: What would make Brits say no to £1 million?
Love, loyalty, and lifestyle? All negotiable for £1 million. One-third would ditch their romantic partner, 40% would give up sex forever, and 55% would go off-grid and ditch technology. Sacrifices that once felt unthinkable start to sound strategic.
That said, there are some clear limits to what Brits will accept. Seven in ten say they’d turn down £1 million if it meant never traveling again. And nearly 40% wouldn’t take the money if they could only spend it on helping others.
Smart moves: How would Brits spend sudden wealth?
Before the spending starts, there’s one important decision to make: who, if anyone, would you tell about your sudden fortune?
Most say they’d tell their partner (63%) or family (65%), but not everyone wants to share the spotlight. One in eight Brits wouldn’t tell a soul if they struck it rich. Even close friends don’t always make the cut – only a quarter say they’d let them in on the secret.
What’s the first purchase with £1 million? For 55%, it’s a house, prioritising stability over luxury cars (4%) or designer goods (2%). A round-the-world trip comes next (19%), while one in seven would spend their first slice on someone they love.
The long-term strategy varies. Some imagine quiet caution, others lean into calculated risk. Despite the urge to splurge, 52% would spend slowly and savour the moment, while 23% would invest smartly. Only 8% would go all-in on luxury immediately.
Beneath the drive for personal gain, there’s still a sense of shared responsibility. 86% say they’d donate part of their fortune. Top causes include medical and health (38%), homelessness and poverty (37%), animal welfare (36%), and climate (18%).
Quitting the grind — but what next?
Money isn’t only about the luxurious cars, dinners, and designer labels. For many, it’s about something less visible: freedom. That first real exit. More than half of Britons (55%) say they’d quit their jobs the moment the money hit their account. No hesitation. Just gone.
But work isn’t off the table. Nearly a third (27%) would pursue passion projects, 18% would start a business, and 22% would keep working but less intensely. Just 10% plan never to work again.
Money worries: The dark side of sudden wealth
Getting swamped by requests for cash is a big fear for 48% of Brits, followed by scams (30%) and wasting their winnings (28%).
Still, 49% believe wealth would bring out their best selves, though 8% worry it might change them for the worse. Maybe money doesn’t corrupt so much as reveal intentions, values, even vulnerabilities you hadn’t considered.
The dream ticket: How Brits hope to make their millions
Luck plays a big role: 32% see the lottery as their best chance, 25% think marrying rich is the key, and 23% count on inheritance. Cryptocurrency and casinos trail behind, with 13% and 6% respectively.
We all carry a version of the jackpot dream. And most of us, at some point, have already mapped it out: what we’d buy, who we’d tell, how we’d spend or save or maybe just disappear for a while.
Even if we know, realistically, it’s unlikely… the planning feels real. Like a quiet escape route we keep in our back pocket, just in case.
