Infamous lottery winner's house burns

Dec 2, 2016, 12:10 pm (62 comments)

Jack Whittaker

Jack's back with more heartbreak

Firefighters from all over Bland County converged on Deer Run Estates in Rocky Gap, West Virginia, on Friday morning to battle a blaze at lottery winner Jack Whittaker's house.

Whittaker said he was on his way to Ghent, West Virginia, to work when his wife, who was inside the brick structure, called him about the fire.

Fire crews got the call at 6:59 a.m. and the house was already engulfed in flames when they arrived.

Whittaker's wife smelled smoke and was able to escape unharmed with the family dog, but a cat died in the blaze, he said.

As firefighters fought the flames on Friday morning, small explosions — apparently from small propane tanks — could be heard coming from the residence. At one point, an Appalachian Power Co. transformer near the house also exploded.

Whittaker said he wasn't sure how the fire started.

"(There) won't be much to haul away — a bunch of bricks, that's it," he said.

He said that he didn't have insurance and would probably move to another building in front of the burned residence.

It was in December 14 years ago that Whittaker dropped $100 at a convenience store counter — $2 on a hot dog and $98 on Powerball tickets — and won a more than $300 million lottery jackpot. At the time it was the largest lottery jackpot ever awarded to a single winning ticket.

Lottery Post has chronicled a long list of woes for Whittaker since that first day of happiness when he won the jackpot.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Toronto

Not having insurance and just moving into another house would be nice

Kingofearth's avatarKingofearth

He's still in West Virginia? I went looking for updates on him a few weeks ago and a site said he's living quietly in LA Cal. 

Anyway, the unluckest lucky man gets another round of unluckiness. He really should think about moving somewhere else, might help him get some of his luck back.

Skibunnylk's avatarSkibunnylk

No home insurance? This guy is dumber than what people even give him credit for. He can't blame it on having no funds since his home was paid in full which btw is the only legal way he can opt out of getting insurance. Most ordinary folks who take out a mortgage are obligated to have home insurance to satisfy the lenders requirements.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

No Pity!

Bleudog101

Going to work??? Isn't he as old as dirt now?  Perhaps he kept his business going all these years.

luckyshoes's avatarluckyshoes

So his house is paid for...good. But no home insurance?...that's just plain.......stupid.

No No

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Mr & Mrs Whittaker I'm Sorry to hear about your Cat.Sad

noise-gate

By the looks of things, everything is on fire. Some jackpot winners dissappear never to be heard of again.Jack is not one of them. I hope his Phoenix will rise. 

mikeintexas's avatarmikeintexas

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Dec 2, 2016

By the looks of things, everything is on fire. Some jackpot winners dissappear never to be heard of again.Jack is not one of them. I hope his Phoenix will rise. 

I hope his Phoenix will rise.


It probably does when he goes to strip clubs.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by mikeintexas on Dec 2, 2016

I hope his Phoenix will rise.


It probably does when he goes to strip clubs.

Skeptical

 he may have wizened up since he first got lucky and initial tragedies marred his then lifestyle

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but I somehow doubt it

Artist77's avatarArtist77

RIP kitty cat.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by mikeintexas on Dec 2, 2016

I hope his Phoenix will rise.


It probably does when he goes to strip clubs.

That was funny mike- but l * think him frequenting those joints are behind him. Did he not give one of those places a "bad" reputation when he accused its customers or the joint of stealing over K100 from him, only for his briefcase to be found by cops behind a dumpster where he probably stashed it while taking a leak? 

Groppo's avatarGroppo

Quote: Originally posted by helpmewin on Dec 2, 2016

Mr & Mrs Whittaker I'm Sorry to hear about your Cat.Sad

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I'm truly sorry about that too.

mikeintexas's avatarmikeintexas

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Dec 2, 2016

That was funny mike- but l * think him frequenting those joints are behind him. Did he not give one of those places a "bad" reputation when he accused its customers or the joint of stealing over K100 from him, only for his briefcase to be found by cops behind a dumpster where he probably stashed it while taking a leak? 

Y'know, I really don't remember anything about that other than he took several thousand bucks in a briefcase to a strip club.  I tend to skip over the bad luck lottery stories and instead enjoy reading the ones about the people who did something good with the money, be it to better their own lives or those of others or simply just enjoyed their new wealth. 

I've only been to a strip club a few times, a couple of times for buddy's bachelor parties, but the last time I went to a strip club was in the early 90's; I was going back to school at the time and me 'n some of the guys in my program went to go see Morganna the Kissing Bandit. (and her snake)

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