World Snooker Championship winner blew millionaire status despite £500,000 payday
Luca Brecel became one of the most surprising World Snooker Championship winners of all time and was a millionaire, but spent his money on fast cars
Luca Brecel admitted he lost his millionaire status quickly after winning the 2023 World Championship
(Image: VCG via Getty Images )
As Zhao Xintong celebrates his World Snooker Championship final victory over Mark Williams, he will do well to learn lessons from Luca Brecel's celebrations. The latter became a millionaire when he won the World Snooker Championship, but spent his seven-figure status away just as quickly.
In 2023, Brecel shocked the sporting world by beating Mark Selby 18-15 at the Crucible to win his first world championship. The Belgian became the first ever player from continental Europe to become a world champion. Brecel looked to be threatening another run to the final this year, but he was stopped by Judd Trump in the quarter-finals.
When Brecel emerged from the Crucible victorious two years ago, he left with a hefty £500,000 prize. However, the Belgian Bullet chose to enjoy his winnings while he could and splashed out on three stunning cars. By the end of his shopping spree, which was reportedly worth around £440,000, he found that his status as a millionaire was over.
Last year, before his World Snooker Championship defence, he admitted: "I bought two more cars this week, so I went from a millionaire to a non-millionaire."
It's understood that he spent more than £250,000 on a high-speed Ferrari 488, £80,000 on a Range Rover, and a Porsche Taycan GT believed to be worth around £111,000 for his girlfriend, Laura Vanoverberghe.
The humorous thing about his purchases is that he is rarely behind the wheel. In a past interview with the Sun, he admitted: "I got a couple of cars with my winnings. I got a Ferrari and a couple of others. Just to enjoy myself. I don't really drive it that often. I'm not really home that much."
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Brecel bought his Ferrari soon after winning the 2023 World Snooker Championship
(Image: Photo by JONAS ROOSENS/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images )
Brecel would have pocketed around £50,000 for reaching the last eight at the Crucible this year - a hefty prize but only 10 per cent of his winnings from 2023. The Belgian was determined to make a splash at the competition this year, after two years of inconsistent form.
He immediately made headlines by arriving at the Crucible via an audacious private jet, which he offered to allow other people on social media to join him in. His spending has previously attracted the criticism of other snooker legends such as Stephen Hendry.
Brecel reached the quarter-finals but was beaten by Judd Trump
(Image: VCG via Getty Images )
Before the competition, the snooker great said: "I honestly don't know what he's (Brecel) doing with his career. I haven't got a clue. I see him a lot on Instagram, he's riding his bike all over the place, he's going out to dinners with his girlfriend, he seems to be having a lovely time."
Brecel's laid-back and relaxed demeanour has often led to many people questioning his motivation and desire to win more major titles. However, he insists he is happy with a simple life. He added: "To be honest, I live quite a simple life, apart from the cars maybe.
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"I just love being at home when I have the chance to be at home. Walk the dog, watch a bit of television, play a few games. A pretty basic life, to be honest. It may not look like that, but it is."
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