What Germans would afford from a lottery win

Winning millions is the dream of all lottery players. To be provided for and no longer have to look at the budget when making purchases: In order to achieve such privileges, most people actually play 6aus49 and Co. week after week. But what would Germans most likely be able to afford if the big jackpot draw really did take place? This was the question posed by a study recently published by the EuroJackpot lottery. Among other things, it shows that most Germans are drawn to faraway places. Self-employment or other professional values, on the other hand, are less desirable.

There is probably no lottery player who has not at some point thought more concretely about what they would do if they won millions. In fact, studies have repeatedly shown that the idea of sudden wealth is deeply rooted in the human psyche and closely linked to social values and dreams.

However, while in the past the focus was primarily on home ownership and material wealth, the wishes and priorities of Germans have changed over time. A recent study by the EuroJackpot lottery sheds a detailed light on the current dreams of German citizens: instead of investing in golden taps or luxury yachts, the majority are drawn to faraway places in search of new experiences and adventures. This development not only reflects the trend towards globalisation and a growing interest in cultural travel, but also a shift towards intangible values.

Interestingly, professional ambitions and the idea of self-employment are increasingly taking a back seat for many lottery players - an indication that winning the lottery is primarily seen as a means of fulfilling personal freedom and quality of life - and less as a springboard for career goals.

This is what the latest EuroJackpot study is all about

The new EuroJackpot study, which was conducted in February 2024 in collaboration with the market research professionals from Appinio, follows on from a similar study from the recent past, which, however, asked the opposite question: What would Germans not buy with a lottery win? While the earlier survey provided insights into purchases that were perceived as unnecessary, the current study aims to find out the deepest desires and dreams of the respondents.

It was conducted via Appinio's mobile panel, a market research tool that enables data professionals to quickly and accurately access the opinions of a diverse target group. The online survey, in which 1,000 people between the ages of 18 and 65 took part, was representatively weighted in order to balance the results by age and gender and thus provide as accurate a picture as possible of the German population. This methodology ensures that the data is highly meaningful and goes beyond mere snapshots.

Faraway places are calling: most potential lottery winners would travel around the world or even emigrate

The results of the EuroJackpot study paint a clear picture of what most Germans dream of when they imagine winning the lottery:

1. The longing for faraway places is particularly pronounced. A full 21 per cent of respondents stated that they would use the money they won to travel around the world - often together with their partner. This idea of an extended adventure around the globe reflects the growing desire to see life as a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be savoured to the full.
2. Equally remarkable is that 16 per cent of respondents would consider taking the drastic step of emigrating altogether. This clearly shows that the dream of a different life, often in warmer or more exotic climes, is deeply rooted in German society. This indicates a certain dissatisfaction with the living conditions here, but can also be interpreted as an expression of a romanticised idea of a new beginning far away from home.
3. Interestingly, building a house, a traditionally highly valued wish, also ranks among the top concerns, which is in stark contrast to the first two points. Another 16 per cent of respondents stated that they would like to build their own home. The current very high property prices could have something to do with this.
4. This is followed by career-related ambitions. 15 per cent of respondents dream of turning their hobby into a career, which indicates that the fulfilment of personal passions has become more important than conventional career goals. In fact, other career aspirations, such as starting a business or writing a book, are significantly less popular - with only 6 per cent of respondents harbouring these plans in each case.
5. The fact that only 9 per cent would invest their winnings in building wealth for future generations indicates a shift in long-term financial planning - away from traditional retirement planning and towards immediate enjoyment of wealth.
6. The significantly lower figures for special plans such as opening a café (4 per cent) or entering the influencer business (2 per cent) illustrate that although creative and unconventional ideas are popular with some lottery players, they are more likely to be considered niche aspirations.

Different trends among younger and older test subjects - with surprises

The EuroJackpot study reveals remarkable differences in the dreams and ambitions of the various age groups when it comes to spending a lottery win.

1. Younger respondents, particularly 18 to 24-year-olds, show a surprisingly strong inclination towards the classic dream of home ownership. A full 25 per cent of this age group would invest their lottery winnings in building a house. This trend could be interpreted as an expression of a need for stability and long-term security, which is particularly important for young adults in a world of increasing unpredictability. The situation is similar among 25 to 34-year-olds, 22 per cent of whom share this desire. The figures indicate that home ownership is still seen as a central component of a fulfilling life - especially in the younger years of life, when many people want to plan and secure their future.
2. However, priorities shift as people get older. From the age of 35, the thirst for adventure gains in importance, which many people would actually immediately assign to the very young. 26 per cent of this age group would use their winnings for a trip around the world. At the same time, the proportion of those who would build a house drops to 18 per cent. This could indicate that people in this phase of life, which is often characterised by professional and family commitments, are increasingly striving for freedom and new experiences in order to possibly break out of their everyday lives.
3. From the age of 45, longings for travelling and even emigration dominate. This shows that in the later years of life, the search for fulfilment is no longer necessarily linked to material goods, but rather to the opportunity to enjoy life to the full. For the older test subjects, winning the lottery is seen less as a means of securing the status quo and more as an opportunity to realise long-cherished dreams and possibly make a completely new start.
4. Another interesting result of the study is that the younger participants, especially the 18 to 24-year-olds (23 per cent) and the 25 to 34-year-olds (15 per cent), show a strong interest in turning their hobby into a career. This emphasises a growing tendency among the younger generation to see work not just as a means to an end, but as an expression of personal passion and creativity. While older respondents are increasingly looking to retire from working life, younger people still want to realise their professional dreams and see winning the lottery as an opportunity to do so without financial constraints.

Conclusion

Image source: Screenshot von https://www.eurojackpot.de/news/deutschland-traeumt-von-weltreisen-und-eigenheimen