Winner who replaced girlfriend with luxury cars and penthouses has spent half of his winnings
By Kate Northrop
A German lottery winner who won €10 million (US$10.4 million) in the lottery has spent half of his prize on a variety of luxuries, such as sportscars, penthouses, and of course, a pet alligator.
Kursat "Chico" Yildirim, 42, of Dortmund, Germany, originally made headlines for winning the lottery and subsequently dumping his girlfriend for a brand-new Ferrari.
His anonymous ex-girlfriend said that the she was shocked by how the "money has changed him," especially after he promised to spend the money on her after finding out about the win. She was even more surprised when he terminated their relationship and bought a Ferrari for his own birthday, valued at €449,618 ($463,370).
One of his most recent purchases, however, is not another new set of wheels, rather a set of claws and razor-sharp teeth.
In a TikTok video, Yildirim was spotted walking a pet alligator wearing a nice-looking collar, which he supposedly bought for €62,000 (US$66,478).
The "ultimate rich man's pet" comes after a 30-day spending spree during which he bought over a million Euros worth of cars and an Istanbul penthouse.
Yildirim, who quit his job at a steel plant in Germany after the win, has also given his family, notably his parents and brothers, some of the money from his prize.
According to Daily Star, some of Yildirim's other biggest acquisitions include flashy watches, his favorite pub, a yacht that he named after himself (Chico), and a 20-hectare plantation with 6,000 almond trees for a nuts business. After he buys another penthouse in Dortmund, he says that he's done with the spending and now wants to focus on digging wells and giving gifts.
"I'd love to go to Africa to dig wells and give presents to the children there," he said in an interview. "Believe me, I'll never forget where I'm coming from. I'm working class. I'll never become an arrogant person."
And just because things may have ended between him and his last girlfriend, he says he his still looking for the one.
"She may be blonde or brunette, I don't care," he told Bild. "I just want to fall in love. I'm looking for a woman who loves to travel and is ready to start a family with me."
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"I'd love to go to Africa to dig wells and give presents to the children there," he said in an interview. "Believe me, I'll never forget where I'm coming from. I'm working class. I'll never become an arrogant person."
And to think the guy that bought the $25 million mansion is nuts...
Yikes, hope he keeps spot well fed.
I knew we would hear about him again. He replaced his man purse with an alligator.
And he is still wearing my winter coat. Lol
Yeah, I kind of wish he won an even bigger jackpot, because his purchase and life decisions are solid gold.
He's still looking for "the one", she may be blonde or brunette doesn't care just wants to fall in love/start a family. Come On , this guy is a superficial narcissist. Obviously cannot manage money, Sadly some woman would jump at the chance to be with this bozo.
Owning an exotic pet cannot be legal without some sort of permit, I hope. What is going to happen when the pet is 14 ft long and 400 lbs?
He is acting like a drug lord.
I read once that the late Sam Walton. the founder of Walmart, would drive an old truck and dress like a farmer simply because he did not want to stand out in a crowd. He never wanted to flaunt his wealth or be a person who said "look at me". Fast forward 30 yrs later and here we have a rich guy walking around with a reptile on a lease......" look at me."
Best way to live. Drive that older car so no one has a clue about your $. Stay under the radar.
Well, he's acting in a way that will land him in Part 3 of the Infamous Lottery Winners videos.
Part 1: https://youtu.be/SO7m0Oq-h1I
Part 2: https://youtu.be/jhUNorU4anA
Just watched those videos. Very interesting. But Abraham Shakespeare's mistake was trusting the wrong person. He was not spending wildly on drugs or buying too much. He was too generous.
A whole lot good people deserve to win better than this guy.He will going to broke soon...
I'm guessing a lot of people think that with the choices he's making he'll burn through all of the money. I'm also guessing there's a fair chance it will last th rest of his life.
I've got no real opinion on what will happen to the alligator.
He will be broke & owe $$$$ in taxes- a fool with money.