Luke Littler was virtually unknown a year ago. Now he is making millions, transcending his sport and is searched for more often on Google than King Charles and the British prime minister.

That Littler is a 17-year-old darts player who still lives at home with his parents in northwest England making his rise to fame and increasing fortune all the more remarkable.

It was around this time 12 months ago, with Christmas approaching, when Littler grabbed the attention of Britain and beyond by making an unlikely run to the final of the 2024 World Darts Championship on his tournament debut. He was 16 — though he could easily have passed for double the age — and seemingly without a care in the world, celebrating his victories with doner kebabs and filling his downtime by playing video games.

Littler lost the title match, but won a legion of fans and brought darts — to many, a beer-fueled pub game — back into the mainstream, emulating its 1980s heyday.

It also earned the down-to-earth teenager, nicknamed "Luke The Nuke," 200,000 pounds ($255,000) and opened the door to a whole new world of opportunities.