$18.5M lottery winner 'scraping by'Previous TopicNext Topic

Stephi, for the same income, you could quit your job at the motel and take a job at a large retail store.  Doing so soon would eliminate 95% of your listed job hassles and stresses; that is unless you enjoy suffering and stress.  Make conscious efforts towards enjoying people again, your life will become more fun that way.

Well, he still has money, as the article didn't say that he dispensed of it all!  I'm not sure why some LP members are assuming he's broke, unless they know something that the article didn't print.

Regardless, perhaps this widowed, sinior 2-digit multi-million dollar jackpot winner, should stay a week at the best hotel in Burbank and spend that week deeply entrenched in Burbank downtown life socializing, observing resident's interactions, and sightseeing.  After all, the Burbank town may be different than when he lived there 10 years ago, and he may choose to investigate moving to a different town soon thereafter.

After these "research" trips, he may discover that all he really desires is to purchase a home that is half the size ... a 2000 sq ft. one-story home near the area he currently lives in.

I did a search on this guy....there is an article: "The 18 million headache"  The guiy has his heart in the right place, but needed to use his head when it came to doling out money. 

While Jack Whitaker had his faults, he "over-gave" to everyone, including the granddaughter.  It seems this guy did the same thing minus the strip clubs.

I understand wanting to give money to those in need. Giving away too much and you become the one in need.  Coupled with the death of his wife, I suspect loneliness played a part in his giving away of money.... It is a shame about his sons....but they had problems before, he should have set up trusts that would help them, not just give it away.

I love my sons, but they are too young to be given money.....at this point, they would want to buy every toy at the toy store and still come back for more......that is how kids get spoiled....then they begin to expect more. 

He had friends that wanted to be on his annual payroll......He probably should have never given to them in the first place.

Money doesn't change you, it changes the people around you.  You have to be smart enough to say "no" and to do the things necessary so that this "blessing" goes a long way.  I do view it as a blessing, but not handled properly it becomes the "headache" described.

MC Hammer did the same thing tried too help his entire neighborhood on 30 mil and went bankrupt!! so whether you win money,inherit money or earn it as an entertainer manage it WISELY no matter what.

There will alway be needy people, no amount of money will ever eliminate them.  There are needy people who thinks it's the duty of others to help them that never do anything to help themselves.

There's been several stories on him that have been posted here from what I recall and yeah at least that one kid and the in-law took advantage of his buying them a house as we saw in one of the "How the Lottery Changed My Life" episodes but at least he stopped before being completely broke. Speaking of that episodes, I don't recall anyone but them from his family appearing, can't remember if it was the man or woman who was his kid but seeing how crazy they went with their excessive Elvis shrine home I'm sure it didn't sit well with their siblings. Like what's been said, even if he had a billion dollars he would end up in the same place as they would have just wanted more, they always do. I doubt he paid for the wedding or any of the other absurd requests though publicizing himself up for that certainly didn't help with that, he probably gave into a lot of sob stories, legitimate or not.  It didn't sound like he was totally broke or anything and he still owns his home so that's a plus, just the money train has run out of steam. Still it's another example of what will happen if you go into this with a soft heart and an in ability to say NO.

I agree with you regarding the suspicion of loneliness.  I can't believe his own children use him the way they do.  I like the fact that before his wife died, he and she were donating to legitimate charities.  Perhaps things would be different, if his wife hadn't died.  I'm worried about the Traveller type golddiggers out there who know how to play the 'I'm destitute help poor little me' organ like a pro in the presence of vulnerable people with good hearts but no direction.

Quote: Originally posted by starchild_45 on August 25, 2010

tiggs no matter how you get there are still ways to stay in the sexual game if you know what i mean. LOL. it would be my splurge because as i get older there is not much i want anymore except the fore mentioned. that money could buy a lot of fake "i love yous" LOL. LIE TO ME. lol.

Havaball

Plus a lot of painful and/or unenjoyable sexual viruses received ... so, be careful with your libido!

I have asked via obtaining my lottery ticket, am daily visualizing and feeling the elation of my joyful jackpot win opportunities-laden lifestyle, and am allowing/opening the door to receive my share of the U.S.A. multi-state jackpot-win via the Illinois Lottery.  I trust, know, and feel that I will receive it directly from The Universe soon!

starchild

that is what condoms are for.

From the OP:

"I wish I'd won a billion dollars so I could keep everyone happy," saidSnelius, a retired truck mechanic originally from Lithuania. Sneliusopted for a single $18.5 million payment back in September 2000, ratherthan get 26 annual payments."

It is impossible to keep everyone happy. Does he really think he would have handled $1 billion any better?

Particularly someone with your desire to point out the obvious! . Geesh I think the man meant he has good intentions with his good fortune and I am sure that it is very much wishful thinking for him to give away to make folks satsified. Even Walt Disney carried that dream thru his life and he sure as heck did touch ALOT of lives. Fiddle de dee to folks who dont dream and wish. At least this guy followed it thru with goodness and it didnt squander it on useless toys...Hats off to a goodhearted wishful outlook in life!

Bottom line for me is:

I like this guy.

He does have a big heart.

It sounds like he did get taken advantage of and I hope that others don't abuse his generosity.

I hope that he mends his relationship with his children...and that they recognize that they need help....It's the least they can do, their mother is gone.

Whatever his belief in religion is, I hope that he is fulfilled.

petergrfn,

Sorry to hear of your misfortunes. Our family has struggled through some tragedy during the last decade, so I can sympathize with you. Winning the lottery is that one dream we all share, but remember that our primary aim should be to subsist on what we can earn, not what we don't have. The company that insured your relatives should be exposed as frauds. It is hard enough to face the expenses and heartache of a family member's grave illness, much less having to deal with their underwriters 'bailing out' of their obligations. My wife accurately portrayed this current government push to hook our nation's citizens on gambling. She lived in Vietnam when she was growing up, and she understood the nature of big government. Sanctioned gambling is a harbinger of an eventual economic collapse. Notice how much the government 'confiscates' money from the jackpot amounts? It's just one more means for the publicly privileged (many of whom benefit from nepotism..) to soak us for each dime we earn, or win. I'll put it concisely: Imagine government as a vampire. Now imagine our earnings as blood. Then imagine our government's taxes, fees, fines, foibles (gambling, alcohol, tobacco and now pot) and funding as our veins and arteries. Now you got it!

He's a good-hearted man, God bless him.

I'd like to scrap by with just 18.5 measley million dollars. Boooo

I found it - it was "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder.