Young lottery winner stakes hopes on Wrestling show

Sep 18, 2009, 8:28 am (40 comments)

After the Big Win

NEW TAMPA, Fla. — The youngest Powerball winner ever has packed up his millions and moved to Tampa Bay, fulfilling his dream of working in the wrestling business with a wild new TV show.

Combine beautiful women, professional wrestling, and part of a $17 million lottery payout, then stir — and you get the new TV show "Wrestlicious".

"MAD TV + the WWE + Baywatch + Dave Chappelle = Wrestlicious," explained Powerball winner Jay Vargas, who's helping finance the show with his lottery loot.

Videos of the show posted on YouTube show a mix of pro wrestling, sketch comedy, and bikini photo shoots — all involving women in a variety of skin-tight outfits.

And one of the recurring characters on "Wrestlicious" is "J.V. Rich" — "The rapper-slash-owner of 'Wrestlicious,'" Vargas said.

"J.V. Rich" is a mansion-dwelling, single 21-year old millionaire surrounded by ladies and spending cash like crazy. What's that character have in common with the real Jay Vargas?

"Attractive and handsome — like myself," Vargas said with a laugh that showed he wasn't taking himself seriously.

Physical appearance is about all the two share. The real Vargas is normal — and pretty humble. After snagging a $17 million lump sum payment last year at age 19, becoming Powerball's youngest-ever winner, Vargas vowed to spend his money smartly.

"I don't have the temptation to go out and buy 15 cars or 50 houses, or a big mansion with 50-plus rooms... I just want to be comfortable," he said.

He's settled down with a wife and family in a nice, but not-over-the-top house in New Tampa. His money and his mind are totally devoted to his TV show-in-the making.

Since Tampa Bay's home to so many wrestlers, Vargas made it his home, too. It's a much better situation than the rumors he hears back home in South Carolina.

"I hear I'm dead every month," Vargas said, repeating a rumor that he hears about when he talks to friend and family. "Ever since I won the Powerball."

"They actually did a press conference saying that I was dead and that I was found in pieces or something like that. I think it's sort of funny. 'Cause I'm not dead at all," he said with a big laugh.

Vargas said his producer is working with TV networks to find a home for the TV show, which has already filmed a pilot episode hosted by wrestling promoter Jimmy Hart.

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Comments

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Sound like a receipe for losing all of his money !

magic 007

wow my neighborhood!! well good luck mr Vargas.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by dpoly1 on Sep 18, 2009

Sound like a receipe for losing all of his money !

Roll EyesI hate to say this .... but I kinda hope he does

hjones

Wow.  Someone's going to be poor in a few years.  Too bad.

JimmySand9

Well, it may seem like a stupid idea, but at least he's reinvesting his money in a business instead of on a bunch of junk. Can't say that about a lot of lotto winners.

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Well, hopefully, his idea works out for him. I don't have any idea why people hope that he fails.

kikie

Oh man this dude isliving my dream. I wanted towin the lottery also and be part of WWE Smackdown. WEll, I guess not yet..I'm happy for him anyway

DoctorEw220's avatarDoctorEw220

I wouldn't' hope he fails, but I have a feeling that he will.  It's a shame he didn't win more money, or take the annuity so a bad investment like this wouldn't completely ruin him.  Oh well.  Hopefully he won't be flipping burgers in a few years.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by DoctorEw220 on Sep 18, 2009

I wouldn't' hope he fails, but I have a feeling that he will.  It's a shame he didn't win more money, or take the annuity so a bad investment like this wouldn't completely ruin him.  Oh well.  Hopefully he won't be flipping burgers in a few years.

One of the wealthiest men in my area occasionally flipped burgers at one of his three Mc Donald franchises.  He and his wife would often join their employees and his kids who also worked in them to see just what was going on.   He later sold them and moved on.   Even Dave came to town in a fancy motor home before he died to flip burgers in the local Wendy for an hour.  There nothing bad about flipping burgers especially if you're doing it in a place you own.

joshuakim

i wish him luck.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by JimmySand9 on Sep 18, 2009

Well, it may seem like a stupid idea, but at least he's reinvesting his money in a business instead of on a bunch of junk. Can't say that about a lot of lotto winners.

I Agree! Nicely put.  One man's stupid idea is another man's dream job.  At least he's living the dream and not wasting his time and money.

lottocalgal's avatarlottocalgal

Quote: Originally posted by hearsetrax on Sep 18, 2009

Roll EyesI hate to say this .... but I kinda hope he does

Why?

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by lottocalgal on Sep 18, 2009

Why?

 cause I tink it'd make for an interesting WHAT NOT TO DO ........ ROFL

fja's avatarfja

Well you never know,,,one of the riches people around is Joe Francis and his "Girls Gone Wild" Corporation....Suprising how many women want to show there "Stuff" and have it plastered all over the internet and CD's....add a little wrestling and you might have something...

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