Lottery winner stays grounded after $220 million jackpot

Aug 12, 2013, 4:15 pm (127 comments)

After the Big Win

Says waiting to claim jackpot was best thing he did

Includes audio report

In 2005, Brad Duke of Star, Idaho, hit a huge jackpot: $220 million in the Powerball lottery. It took a couple days, even a couple of weeks, for the magnitude of his win to hit. He didn't tell anyone, and went about his daily routines while he tried to figure out what he wanted to do next.

As a regular lottery player, Duke had let himself fantasize about what it might be like to win thousands of dollars someday. As a cyclist, he'd always daydreamed about owning a high-end road bike and a high-end mountain bike, which his actual windfall would certainly cover.

But Duke didn't go on a spending spree. "I stayed in my house, I drove a used car for up to three years afterwards," he tells NPR's Rachel Martin. "The more I started to fantasize about what I could do with the money, the more I felt like I should try to keep my feet on the ground and change as little as I could."

AUDIO: Listen to the radio report

NPR

Comments

Pita Maha's avatarPita Maha

Great example of what to do and not to do - especially the part about not telling anyone and taking the time to figure what to do. I would imagine you'd experience some incredible euphoria after winning and that wouldn't be a good time to make any decisions or deal with all the hands that would be reaching out.  I'd arrange to have a monitored security and surveillance system installed at my house, get a new cell number, then disappear for at least a month someplace nice while I took the time to think and plan.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Approveglad to hear hes still enjoying his winnings and keeping his feet firmly on the ground

CLETU$

Quote: Originally posted by hearsetrax on Aug 12, 2013

Approveglad to hear hes still enjoying his winnings and keeping his feet firmly on the ground

I remember when he won his jackpot,he had plans to parlay his winnings into 1 billion dollars.I wonder if he's getting close to a billion yet.

Pita Maha's avatarPita Maha

Quote: Originally posted by CLETU$ on Aug 12, 2013

I remember when he won his jackpot,he had plans to parlay his winnings into 1 billion dollars.I wonder if he's getting close to a billion yet.

He probably changed his mind. Way too much risk and stress. Better to kick back and enjoy life.

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

what was them numbers Smiley

OldSchoolHits

Yeah, that's nice and all, but I wouldn't be driving a used car for up to 3 years after winning that amount of money. Keeping your feet on the ground is one thing, but you give me $85 million free and clear (which is what he got with the lump sum) and I can tell you that although I'd try to stay grounded, I'd get a new car. Ever see a U-Haul following a hearse?

Win$500Quick's avatarWin$500Quick

Good Job.Thumbs UpThe curse of the lottery is a myth.

faber98

Quote: Originally posted by OldSchoolHits on Aug 12, 2013

Yeah, that's nice and all, but I wouldn't be driving a used car for up to 3 years after winning that amount of money. Keeping your feet on the ground is one thing, but you give me $85 million free and clear (which is what he got with the lump sum) and I can tell you that although I'd try to stay grounded, I'd get a new car. Ever see a U-Haul following a hearse?

many winners take the opposite approach to what he did, but being that conservative and careful seem a little over the top. certainly, enjoying at least a new vehicle and perhaps a somewhat modest new house with all the bells and whistles wouldn't seem to deter him from his goal? of building it to a billion dollars why? would he need a billion if he frugally hangs on to the 85 million or so he already won. his actions kind of border on the absurd. a middle road approach would seem to make more sense since you only live once. spend some more money and enjoy it while you can before  he drives into a crevice on that mountain bike or something. more than likely wherever he has stashed all this cash (with investment bankers who are probably licking their chops knowing he won't be asking for a cashout very soon) some or a lot will be pilfered from him. very few 100% honest investment bankers around, so i hope he chose one or more after doing meticulous research.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

There's always the possibility that he's just cheap.

Maybe he always was and always will be.

Cheapskates just have a hard time parting with money, no matter how much they have.

Good-Time-Charlie types, like me, can't stand being around cheapskates. 

Being smart with your money is one thing but being a penny-pinching, tightwad, skinflint cheapskate is quite another.

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Glad he still has all his moneyThumbs Up

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Aug 12, 2013

There's always the possibility that he's just cheap.

Maybe he always was and always will be.

Cheapskates just have a hard time parting with money, no matter how much they have.

Good-Time-Charlie types, like me, can't stand being around cheapskates. 

Being smart with your money is one thing but being a penny-pinching, tightwad, skinflint cheapskate is quite another.

Yeah- being a tightwad is no fun at all- why play the game if you going to hang onto the money?

l say if you win and have a problem with money: have a budget. For instance if one won $50 mil after taxes and  you said l will spend $1,000,000 a year, if you divide that sum into 12 months- we talking about spending $83,300 A MONTH.That is just a conservative estimate and one anyone can live with.Of course one can always spend more if they so choose- but consider that sum of money with wise investments and charities to boot- one can still live a full, happy and productive life- year in year out. 

No cheapskates for me either Ridge.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Aug 12, 2013

There's always the possibility that he's just cheap.

Maybe he always was and always will be.

Cheapskates just have a hard time parting with money, no matter how much they have.

Good-Time-Charlie types, like me, can't stand being around cheapskates. 

Being smart with your money is one thing but being a penny-pinching, tightwad, skinflint cheapskate is quite another.

I Agree!

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Well thanks hilll guy, just checkin in before I check out.

Hate skin-flints too, cept now gotta go to you tube to hear " Good time Charlie"

 

Yea,  Cool Cheers  great tune,

check It out .

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by haymaker on Aug 12, 2013

Well thanks hilll guy, just checkin in before I check out.

Hate skin-flints too, cept now gotta go to you tube to hear " Good time Charlie"

 

Yea,  Cool Cheers  great tune,

check It out .

Yep,

Some gotta win

Some gotta lose

Good Time Charlie's got the blues.

I remember that one.Cheers

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