Take a look at these stories of how the lottery winners lost it all.
Winning a lottery can change your life in a split second. But it also can go away as fast as it comes. We may not realize when it starts happening. Just like when these lottery winners lost it all.
These 10 people may not won the biggest lottery jackpot ever. They might have won less, but they experienced the same euphoria as any lottery winners would do.
Some of those winners may have succeeded changing their life into better ones. Unfortunately, some of them were just not ready to be that rich that fast.
The worst thing about being suddenly rich is the way people react towards you. They can suddenly be super nice to you. They can also be cruel when they don’t get what they want from you. You could have not imagined what people can do to you for money.
Take a look at these stories of lottery winners lost it all and went back to their former life. For some of them, it got even much worse.
10. David Lee Edwards ($27 million in 2001)
In 2001, David Lee Edwards was one of the four winners of Powerball’s jackpot. It was worth of $280 million. He took the lump sum option. After tax, he received $27 million.
Prior to his lucky win, he was unemployed. And he was living in his parents’ basement. Good things happen to lazy people? Hold that thought.
He spent his money on a house, cars, a jet, and an expensive wristwatch. He spent on weaponry collections and almost $5 million on investment. On top of that, he married a 19 years younger woman.
He spent almost a half of his prize money in just a year. His wife was arrested for stabbing a boyfriend. He lost his house to foreclosure. David died in 2013 not living a millionaire’s life.
9. Evelyn Adams ($5.3 million in 1985 and 1986)
Evelyn Adams was living an unbelievable life. She won the lottery not just once but twice! If you look up the word “lucky” in a dictionary, her name would be all over it.
Evelyn’s first win was in 1985, and the second one was a year later. In total, she got $5.3 million out of the New Jersey lottery. She got too cocky with her luck and spent them all on shopping sprees and gambling in Atlantic City.
She was then married to her fiancé, Ed Baseshore, and goes by the name Evelyn Baseshore. Evelyn lost it all and has been living in a trailer park.
In 2012, she told the New York Post that she is still playing the lottery. But today, she cannot be contacted.
8. Lou Eisenberg ($5 million in 1981)
Lou Eisenberg won a Lotto jackpot in 1981. It was a $5 million jackpot back then. And today, it is worth almost $14 million.
Lou took the annual payment of $120,000 in 20 years. Giving him a total of $2.4 million after taxes. He received his last check in 2001.
He was living a moment. He bought a house in Florida and went traveling to Europe. He also gambled. And he gave away cash to whoever he thought need it.
After his last check, he went broke. He is now living in a mobile home. He lives day by day on social security and pension income of $1,000 per month.
7. Jack Whittaker ($314.9 million in 2002)
Unlike other American Dream stories of winning a lottery, Jack Whittaker was already a millionaire even before he won the lottery.
Santa seems to think he was a good boy because in Christmas 2002, he won the biggest single ticket lottery jackpot that time. It was a Powerball’s $314.9 million jackpot. He took the lump sum option and brought home $93 million after taxes.
Before the win, Jack was providing good life for his 100 employees. He was living a humble life himself. But the lottery turned it all upside down. He spent his millions on strip clubs and casinos.
It was a series of unfortunate events for Jack upon winning the lottery. His house was robbed. Thieves took hundred thousands of dollars from him. And his daughter, who was later murdered, was addicted to drugs.
6. Keith Howard Nicholson (£152,319 in 1961)
Keith Howard Nicholson won the Littlewoods Football Pool. He and his wife, Vivian, took home £152,319 in 1961 (worth almost $6 million today).
His wife took control over the money. She spent and spent and spent. She was so famous with her spending, there was a London musical basing on her story. It was titled, “Spend, spend, spend!”
Keith died in a car accident and it turned Vivian into depression and alcohol addiction. She ended up had nothing left. She couldn’t even pay her tax bills.
Vivian tried to survive from her financial problems on her own. But she went into an even bigger problem as she had to work as a stripper. She passed away at the age of 79.
5. Michael Carroll (£9 million in 2002)
Michael Carroll is also known as The Lotto Out. He won the Lotto jackpot of over £9 million in 2002. It is worth around $15 million.
Soon after that, he just blew it all off. He spent most of his money on parties, hookers, and cocaine. He was seen a lot wearing huge golden bling-bling.
He bought a villa in Spain. He owned quad bikes. And he also bought demolition-derby cars. What a waste of his money.
He was caught with a felony drug possession. He had to complete a 12 month drug testing and treatment order. He was later sent to jail in 2006 for the same issue.
4. Urooj Khan ($1 million in 2012)
Next up is a tragic story of Chicago lottery winner, Urooj Khan. Urooj won $1 million in 2012. Just a day later, he lost it all.
He might not spend his money, but he certainly did lose his life to the million dollar check. Urooj died just a day after he received the ceremonial check you see on the picture.
Urooj was found dead and his body went through a forensic autopsy. The autopsy revealed that he died of cyanide poisoning.
The suspects were his sister in law and her father. But no one was charged. His death became a mystery as how he would’ve spent his lottery money. They money went to his widow and daughter.
3. Callie Rogers (£1,875,000 in 2003)
Callie Rogers is the youngest person ever to win a lottery in United Kingdom. She was only 16 years old when she received £1,875,000 in 2003 (approximately $2.7 million).
She might have been too young to be handed millions of dollar. She recklessly spent her money on parties, drugs, and plastic surgery.
Upon her winning, she fell into despair and reached the lowest point of her life. She admitted that she was once attempting suicide.
She is now trying to get back on her feet even with only £2,000 of net worth. She is working her way up to be a nurse.
2. Sharon Tirabassi ($10.5 million in 2004)
Sharon Tirabassi won a lottery in 2004. It was a $10.5 million lottery jackpot. She spent the money on vacations with her friends right away. She went to Vegas, Florida, California, and Caribbean. What an itinerary!
Then she spent her money on a wedding. She bought a $515,000 house and a $200,000 car. It was not the only car she bought.
Three years since her winning, she spent half of her money. It was gone. Then her husband was arrested for DUI (Driving Under the Influence).
As if it was not bad enough, she lost her house in the same year. She is now working on a part-time job to pay the rent and support her kids on her own.
1. Abraham Shakespeare ($30 million in 2006)
Abraham Shakespeare’s life was not as grand as his last name. However, it does reflect the tragic stories William Shakespeare ever written.
In 2006, he won the Florida Lotto jackpot of a $30 million. When you get rich, people get nice to you. Abraham, Abe, got new friends.
Unfortunately, one of them was the one who ended his life. Her name was Dorice More, also known as Dee Dee. She tricked Abe into believing she was only trying to protect him from family and friends hounding him for money.
Before Abe went missing in 2009, he transferred his assets to Dee Dee. In 2012, she was proven to have murdered Abe. She was sentenced to mandatory life without parole.
Now it is your turn to imagine of winning a millions of dollar lottery. What would you do with the money? And what would you do differently from these unfortunate lottery winners?
