The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Kathryn Williams
The 500th Premium Bonds holder to win the £1 million jackpot has been revealed, and they have done so with one of the smallest-ever holdings.
The prize went to a winner in Sheffield who had £3,000 worth of Premium Bonds, having purchased the winning bond in February 2008.
It is the lowest-value holding to win £1 million since a winner in Devon won the jackpot with £1,001 in August 2021.
Five hundred Premium Bonds holders have now been made millionaires since the £1million jackpot prize was first introduced in 1994, thanks to February’s landmark draw
Overall, this month’s winner has won the jackpot with the 34th-lowest holding ever, out of all the 500 Premium Bonds millionaires since the prize was introduced in 1994.
The person with the lowest ever holding to win did so in July 2004 with a mere £17 of Premium Bonds to their name.
February’s Premium Bonds prize fund rate was 3.15 per cent – its highest level in 14 years, after NS&I increased the rate twice in quick succession.
This month’s draw will see close to five million prizes paid out worth almost £314million, meaning an extra £15 million will be paid out in tax-free prizes compared to last month.
The 499th jackpot winner also announced this month went to a person based in Sefton, Merseyside, with a £30,000 holding. They purchased their winning bond in May 2006.
Jill Waters, NS&I’s retail director, said: ‘February 2023 is a month to remember for Premium Bonds.
