Lottery fever caused by the biggest Powerball or Mega Millions jackpots continues to grow and although we often hear the touching stories of the winners, we rarely pay attention to the unfortunate events that caused some of them to lose everything in a short time.
The chances of winning the lottery are minuscule, but the chances of a winner’s life taking a tragic turn are greater. Although it seems that winning the lottery jackpot is a dream come true, some people would disagree. Read on to learn the history of 7 lottery winners who lost their millions and unfortunately ended up brokesome at the hands of scammers and greedy people and others as a result of their own reckless actions.
1. Jack Whittaker
In 2002 Jack Whittaker won the Powerball jackpot of $314 million. the largest lottery prize in history up to that time. The West Virginia construction worker was known for his large cowboy hats and his unforgettable personality. The story of this lottery winner remains one of the most serious warnings about the life-ruining power of the lottery.
Jack Whittaker enjoyed giving large tips and alms, an action he did until his money ran out.. She donated wads of dollars to churches, waitresses, family, strangers, and even the local strip club. His life became chaotic and at one point he told ABC News that he thought he was cursed. His wife left him, his house was burned down, he broke the law, he lost a daughter to cancer and a granddaughter to drugs. Jack Whittaker passed away in 2020 at the age of 72.
2. Curtis Sharp
In 1982, Curtis Sharp won $5 million playing the lottery in New York.. Unfortunately his life went from rags to riches and back again. Sharp’s fortune quickly disappeared as multiple failed marriages took up much of his newfound wealth, as well as casino visits and reckless spending and donations.
3. William Post
In 1988 William “Bud” Post won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania lottery, but unfortunately it didn’t last long. and when he died in 2006 he was bankrupt. Just one year after winning the lottery, Post was already $1 million in debt. His ex-girlfriend sued him for a share of the profits and his brother allegedly hired a hitman to end his life.
But William Post’s real problem was his generous spending, as he bought houses, boats, cars and a twin-engine plane for which he did not even have a license to fly.
4. Janite Lee
In 1993, Janite Lee had a job at a wig store when she won $18 million in the Illinois lottery.. Just eight years later Lee filed for bankruptcy, with less than $700 in the bank and $2.5 million in debt. Although his donations were well-intentioned, he simply gave too much.
After donating enormous sums to political, educational and social causes, he sold his rights to future annual payments in exchange for a lump sum; But even this modification was enough to keep her out of bankruptcy court.
5. David Lee Edwards
Just five years after Kentucky resident David Lee Edwards to win $27 million jackpot He no longer had a cent to his name and was living in a storage shed with his wife. The couple wasted their money on the common things that end up sinking lottery winners, since at the time they bought dozens of high-end cars, mansions and even a private plane.
In the first three months they spent $3 million dollars and at the end of the first year they had $12 million “disappeared.” By 206, the couple had an addiction to drugs and just 12 years after the victory that changed the course of their lives, David Lee Edwards died alone and abandoned in a hospice at the age of 58.
6. Evelyn Adams
Evelyn Adams won the lottery twice, both multimillion-dollar prizes; the first in 1985 and the second in 1986, for a total prize of $5.4 million dollars; but luck ran out for Evelyn and like other lottery winners, she failed to adapt to her new fortune. Adams gambled much of the money, in addition to giving large sums to her relatives and a series of bad investments.
7. Alex Toth
In 1990 Alex Toth from Florida won $13 million dollars and elected to receive his winnings in annual installments, which were paid for the ominous amount of $666,666 each. Unfortunately, Toth squandered her fortune on a lifestyle full of excess, then entered a mental institution after separating from his wife and being accused by the IRS of tax fraud. Alex Toth died broke in 2008 at the age of 60.
Keep reading:
– A man wins more than $2 million dollars with a scratch-off that his father gave him
– He went out to buy a soda and came back with more than $30,000 after playing the lottery
– Lucky woman wins lottery twice in Virginia and changes her future forever