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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Sound like a receipe for losing all of his money !
wow my neighborhood!! well good luck mr Vargas.
Wow. Someone's going to be poor in a few years. Too bad.
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.
Well, hopefully, his idea works out for him. I don't have any idea why people hope that he fails.
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
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.
i wish him luck.
Why?
cause I tink it'd make for an interesting WHAT NOT TO DO ........
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...
I Actually just watched his show on you tube, and it seems alot of the comments show people are excited, he also has alot of recognizable names from wrestling and some hot girls........goodluck on your show!! thumbs down to all haters
Hi AlreadyWealthy,
Welcome to LotteryPost! I wish him luck with his show also. Wrestling is very popular!
I've been bringing this up for months.
This show still hasn't gained any TV deals, it's going to be nothing but a money losing venture just like previous incarnations of the exact same thing (with even the same guy behind it as previous failures) corny women's wrestling show (with music production straight out of the 80s to match) that have been tried over the last two decades. There's no real money running a wrestling promotion in the US or Canada unless your last name is McMahon. He won't even break even.
It will work out. If it failed, he did not invested 100% of his money in it.
I'm from South Carolina and work about 10-15 miles from where he use to live. It's true about the rumours....I'm just glad to know he's still alive and hasn't blown it all by now.
I guess any kind of investment is better than no investment at all....gotta try something, ya know. He's a kid....19 years old...plenty of time to live and learn....I AM shocked that he's married and "settled" down at his young age.
I think it's kind of corny, but I'm a female....I'm sure the guys love it. As was stated earlier....look at the Girls Gone Wild idea....that owner is sitting pretty (now that he's out of jail).
Good luck to Mr. Vargas.
the whole point of playing lotto , is to live a dream you cant acheive now. the money isnt the important thing its the dream. good luck to him, i hope he has prudent advisors
This just goes to show you that not everyone on this forum is supportive of lottery winners...and I thought that was the point of this forum. Apparently hearsetrax doesn't get it...most people play the lottery in hopes of living their dreams. Now one man's/woman's dream may not be the same dream you or I may have, but the important point is "that it is that person's dream" and thank God we live in America were people are free to pursue one's dream.
Yes, we all would hope that every lottery winner would not go broke, but the reality is that normal people as well as wealthy people go broke (just ask some of the Bernie Madoff investment victims and property flipping enthusiasts in Florida/California/Las Vegas).
I would hope that he has set aside a portion of money that will be there to sustain his lifestyle whether or not the TV venture pans out.
Now for you haters, I tell you what I would do if my six numbers happen to match those drawn for the next Powerball or MegaMillions drawing:
First I would quit my job. JOBS suck. But I would still do meaningful work (I just can't go into details now since some of it involves a business concept I prefer to protect.). Then I would live my dream of visiting most every continent (except the cold ones...you geography buffs know which I am referring to) and most countries with the goal of going native in most places I visit...learning and living the culture. And yes, I would fly first class everywhere I go...why not?
So I would live my two passions of business ownership and traveling. And for you haters, yes I would have a portion set aside "just drawing interest...actually if my jackpot winnings is large enough, I would only seek to fund my adventures off of the interest. And no, I would not invest with any particular investment guru...mutual funds will do just fine by me.
i saw this coming months ago...not the story the headlines...
and if he lose every penny, it was his money and he can do whatever he please with his money.
It would give our society's members another reason WHY it is an immediate and ultimate bad judgement decision to encourage oneself to become a sociopath, a broadcasting pervert, and/or an enabler of greedy and sexually lude exhibitionists. Also, it's a feeble long-term parenting lifestyle plan.
It would be wise for this 21-year-old, impressionable young man to withdraw from this project. Instead turning his deeply committed focus towards healthily building up the remainder of his family and original $10M (after taxes paid) FORTUNE [targeting maintenance and 2% continual profit per month on monies].
I wish him the best.
I only hope he has somebody looking out for his interests besides the guys using his money to get the show off the ground. They've got nothing to lose and won't be too concerned about throwing tons of good money after bad in an effort to enrich their own lives.
That money could be gone real quick if he's the type to let people take advantage of him.
I hope the show's a big hit but it doesn't sound like something I'd tune in to see.
Wait a minute! Did somebody say women in bikinis?
Maybe not. It depends on how it is delivered. I am sure he won't go broke. He is trying to deliver a product that men want. If his product is "good" he stands to make more money. Look at the other shows that package and sell "sex"...they are booming. I would have hoped that he would find another way but it is his money. I don't see the wife hanging around for years and years if this show turns out to be a success. Jealousy will become a very big issue.