Father, son trying to live like regular guys after $88 million lottery win

I remember how they had to run to a hotel to be left alone when this first happened.  I'm surprised they appeared at the speedway this weekend.  They do seem to have a good head on their shoulders.

Enjoyed this story. Can't say that the Monetary gain wouldnt change a person though, some life styles changes do indeed need to happen.  ANd yes I would no doubt be more diligent in my families safety and be more alert of the scammers. Funny how money can win "instant fly by night friends".

The guy said it best though, Go thru a childrens ward and you are by golly humbled by life itself.

Rdg- I reckon I wont be bring yun's any sweet tater pie then if there is a target at your entry . Dogs are easy to avoid, bring em a snack :)

Just don't give em the sweet tater pie fer the dadgum snack!

And if they do commence to bitin' ya anyway, hold still til they get through.

They get real mean when people start jumpin around and makin a big fuss while they're tryin to bite the hell out of em.

It has been said by a winner in Texas years ago, "The money may not change you, but it changes the people around you." 

More reason to try to keep it a secret. 

I've kind of thought about how to handle such requests/begging if "the cat's out of the bag" (e.g., for some reason you are exposed as a winner)...  If I have to go public, I'd try to make it known that "Yes, I plan to allocate an ongoing percentage of earnings to good causes, however, anybody who actually asks for anything, is automatically disqualified from consideration."  No matter how convincing a case they may make, if they break this rule, they are disqualified.  (I wonder if you could create a trust with such a guideline, putting it beyond your control.) 

Only give to causes that you pursue, not to causes that pursue you.  And then make sure that you make the effort to pursue some good causes.

I've thought about doing something like that too if I was lucky enough to ever hit a big one. However, what I read happens is that as soon as someone finds out that you were wearing a costome etc. That then becomes the story. People will then try to find pictures of the real you and expose you. I personally think that dressing down is probably a good idea but I wonder if by doing that, does that give an illusion to people looking for handouts and scammers think that the person is "less Intelligent" in some way. I wonder if showing up in a really nice Armani suit with glasses may be a better approach in intimadating the so called "less intelligent".  I know they say to dress like your an ordinary folk but to me that may make you more of a target to the scammers thinking you're an easy target.

You know, Gym Rice, that's an interesting comment. If you dress, say, like a lawyer, would people be less likely to try to scam you? I think you are onto something there.

As for dressing up, I agree. I have thought of how I would dress/disguise myself just for fun. But truly, I think that would make a huge splash on network news - not just local/state. Hence, killing the entire reason for it. With my luck, someone would release a pic of me from my college drinking days.

"Only give to causes that you pursue, not to causes that pursue you.  And then make sure that you make the effort to pursue some good causes."

As soon as I read the above quote, an old Johnny Carson line jumped into my head. I think he was doing a skit as a used car dealer giving directions to his car lot. It went something like this: "Take Route 101 south to the Golden State Freeway to Route 5 and north to the Ventura Freeway over to the Pasadena Freeway, south on the Glendale Parkway to the Hollywood Freeway back to the Golden State Freeway to the San Bernadino Freeway up to Route 210 and come back north to Sunland Blvd. and take that to the Slossen Cutoff.... And make sure you don't cut off your Slossen.      

Interesting thoughts, new member, GambleToRamble!  Rambling is what this blog is all about. 

Thank you for sharing and welcome.

One person from as far away as Russia showed up once asking for $150,000, Billy Wilson said.

Funny how some people think lottery winners homes are public places for low lives to hang out and ask for hand outs.

"anybody who actually asks for anything, is automatically disqualified from consideration."

That would be my philosophy and a rule that never gets broken, and the only reason to say anything at any required press conference. It doesn't matter who they are and it doesn't matter how sad their story is.  There are more worthy causes out there than I could fund with $50 billion, and I don't need any help figuring out which ones to fund. Pester me and you'll never be on the list

I agree with that philosophy, ask for money, you don't get any.

Sounds like these guys are doing OK with their winnings.  They've managed to keep the money from going to their heads.

I've found happiness in my life, all the money would do is make things much easier like not having to worry about bills and such.  Money doesn't buy happiness, you have to find that within.

Why are they "Trying to live like regular guys."  Net worth most affects a person.  Now, each of these guys have a MUCH EXPANDED net worth!  I hope that each guy will enjoy the "expanding" processes this money avalanche can allow.

I play the lottery so that I can win its jackpot and thus afford a lifestyle that is more expanded in joy than was before possible.  This won't involve causing others around me to feel worse in any way, in fact, they ideally won't give me or my situation another thought.