Lauren Keene, a 25-year-old from Gloucester, transformed her life after winning a stunning Hollywood Hills-inspired mansion through Omaze. Having previously lived in a modest two-bedroom flat with her father, Lauren became the youngest Omaze Grand Prize winner when she secured a contemporary five-bedroom coastal home, along with £250,000 in cash.
Rather than settling into the luxurious property, Lauren and her partner Ryan Mitchell decided to sell the £2 million mansion and use the proceeds to purchase their true dream home. The sale left them with significant funds remaining, enabling them to explore new opportunities and secure their future.
Reflecting from a holiday in Spain, Lauren shared, “Turning £20 into millions of pounds is still hard to get my head around. We loved the time spent at the house and made special memories, but selling and banking the cash gave us life-changing opportunities.”
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Lauren revealed that the cash prize and mortgage-free house provided a comfortable lifestyle if they had chosen to stay. However, selling allowed them to leap ahead financially, relieve pressure, and even consider new ventures. “It’s taken all the pressure off, given me the chance to think about starting a new business, and meant we’ve been able to help out loved ones too. We just feel incredibly lucky,” she added.
Lauren, a full-time nanny, remembered the moment she found out about her big win in December 2024. She was on her way to grab a McDonald’s drive-thru when Omaze called to inform her. “Missing that Maccies made me a multi-millionaire!” she laughed. Later that day, she celebrated properly with what she called “a very, very happy meal indeed.”
At the time of her win, Lauren and Ryan had been saving to buy a home together, with Lauren still living with her father in Gloucester. She joked that her dad’s initial reaction was one of joy, knowing she would finally be moving out and embarking on an exciting new chapter.