A dad from the UK has won a Spanish villa worth 3 million pounds—thanks to a secondhand armchair.
Graham Dunlop, 52, went to collect the battered leather chair he bought from a woman online—who said he could have it for free if he donated money toward Alzheimer’s research.
He made his donation but then decided to enter a draw from a supporting organization with the charity.
Mr. Dunlop has now won the keys to a spectacular Spanish villa worth over 3 million pounds (US$3,780,600) as well as 250,000 pounds in cash—all thanks to the second-hand armchair.
He still has the chair, which is often used by one of his pet dogs, Maisy.
His magnificent four-bedroom villa in Mallorca is complete with a swimming pool and stunning mountain views.
Mr. Dunlop revealed the chair seller wanted him to donate money toward Alzheimer’s research as her late husband had dementia.
“The reason I entered the draw is quite random really, I’d been after an armchair for my home office for a while, and one popped up on Gumtree,” he said.
“I went to pick it up, but when we arrived the woman refused to take any money for it.
“Instead, she asked that we put something towards an Alzheimer’s charity as her late husband had dementia.
“So, I bought an entry to the super draw on top.”
Mr. Dunlop didn’t give it a second thought afterward and totally forgot he’d even entered.
“My wife didn’t like the look of my lucky chair at first, but of course, she absolutely loves it now!” Mr. Dunlop said.
“You could say my 3 million-pound prize cost me an armchair and a leg! I’ll bring the chair out here for sure, although it might look a bit odd next to the pool.”
The property comes mortgage-free and with all legal fees covered.
Mr. Dunlop, who bought his winning entry for 75 pounds, has been married to his wife Amanda for 15 years, and they have two children.
Originally from Edinburgh, having moved to England 30 years ago, Mr. Dunlop has been working in IT for the past 25 years, and his wife is a part-time primary school teacher. The couple have lived in their current 4-bedroom house near Southampton since 2014.
When the draw organizer first contacted Mr. Dunlop to tell him he’d won, it came as a surprise.
He celebrated his huge win “the best way a British man can,” he said, by “popping the kettle on and having a cup of tea.”
He said, “This villa is simply stunning, I love the design of the place, and the views are spectacular.
“I just can’t believe it’s all ours—even if I jumped in the pool, I don’t think it would sink in!
“We love Spain but never dreamed we’d ever own a place here—especially one like this! I might have to work on my Spanish a bit—although I can order a cerveza with no problems!”
Mr. Dunlop said he has a large extended family whom he hasn’t seen for a while, and he is looking forward to getting everyone together in Spain.
“I’ve never won anything before—but this is worth waiting 52 years for! I’m not sure what we’re going to do long-term yet,” he said.
“We’ll definitely be enjoying a few family holidays here—whatever we decide, this win is fantastic for our family’s future.”
Mr. Dunlop’s new home is a tranquil oasis located within walking distance of the town Selva and village Caimari in the popular travel destination of Mallorca and is just a short flight away from a host of UK airports.
The beautiful holiday retreat sports traditional Spanish décor, such as stone walls and terracotta rooftops—while encompassing a contemporary feel indoors—with bright and spacious open-plan living areas.
There is a large swimming pool with chillout areas and loungers for when Mr. Dunlop feels like taking a siesta or sunbathing after a swim. The entire property offers spectacular views of the Spanish countryside and Serra de Tramuntana mountains.
Inside, there is a state-of-the-art kitchen complete with island dining, a light-filled conservatory with floor-to-ceiling glass doors offering views of the manicured gardens, and a luxurious living room with ornate fireplace—which also provides direct access to the landscaped courtyard and barbecue area with its own stone oven.
The top floor of the property has a stylish main bedroom suite complete with an ensuite bathroom and dressing room—plus two additional guest bedrooms. The lower level provides another ensuite bedroom with a roll-top bath.
To the east of the property, there is a sizeable terrace with thatched roof pergola overlooking the mountains. It’s furnished with a sumptuous sofa and coffee table that are ideal for Mr. Dunlop and his family to enjoy the sunrise or a relaxing Spanish sunset.
The property also has extensive gardens featuring fruit trees and other regional flora. The gardens have been beautifully landscaped to create a variety of terraces and private areas perfect for him to relax with friends or dine alfresco any time of the day.
Dementia is the UK’s leading cause of death, claiming more than 74,000 lives in 2022. One in two people will be directly impacted by the condition—affecting either one’s own health or that of a loved one.
Although the first generation of Alzheimer’s treatments proven to slow the disease are on the horizon, there are none yet available in the UK though researchers are aiming to change this.
The 3.1 million pounds raised through the draw will support the charity’s clinical research program for dementia across the UK, speeding up progress towards a cure.
“Nearly a million people in the UK have dementia, and we urgently need to find more and better treatments so that we can take away the fear, harm, and heartbreak that this devastating condition causes,” Alzheimer’s Research UK CEO Hilary Evans said.
This is the second time the charity has teamed up with the supporting organization for a draw.
The first draw, in 2022, raised 1 million pounds for dementia research during the pandemic.
This latest donation brings the amount raised to 4.1 million pounds.
