An Englishman is raffling his home to Americans who are seeking a foreign “safe haven” from President Donald Trump for just ten dollars per ticket. Tristram Biggs is offering his nearly one-million-dollar property located in a Buckinghamshire village in a unique draw aimed squarely at citizens uneasy with the political climate in the United States.
The concept came to Biggs after he read a news article about a similar house raffle in Ireland. He told The Guardian that he believed he could replicate the idea. “I’m aiming it mainly at Americans, because I think there are millions out there who are terrified about how the political situation is developing, and would be delighted to spend $10 on the ticket to what would effectively be a life raft Plan B,” Biggs said.
His initiative taps into a noted phenomenon of some Americans exploring exit strategies following the last presidential election. High-profile figures such as comedian Rosie O’Donnell have publicly discussed leaving the country and applying for foreign citizenship due to their opposition to Trump. Biggs’s raffle markets itself directly to those who share such anxieties, offering a potential escape route for a minimal financial outlay.
The homeowner has reportedly been attempting to sell the property through conventional means since the summer without success. He expressed a desire to move back to London. The challenging real estate market prompted his unconventional solution.
“In a difficult housing market, I’m trying a different way to solve my problem,” Biggs explained. He added that the raffle was “tapping into a dream of a safe haven and a playful escape.” The offer presents a tantalizing prospect for a small price, though the odds of winning are undoubtedly long. For Biggs, the scheme represents a creative path to achieving his own personal goal of relocating.
For prospective American ticket buyers, it represents a low-cost chance at securing a tangible “life raft” abroad, a concept that has gained traction for a segment of the population disheartened by the current political landscape. The story underscores how global events can create unexpected and novel economic opportunities.