Record lottery winner's wealth cost him dearly

Comment #25

DoubleDown — Fri, 04 Feb 2005 01:41:13 GMT

My thoughts exactly, Chief........One more to ponder- Lie with dogs and you will get fleas .Good ol Jack has been lying with a lot of dogs since Christmas 2002. No wonder he has fleas.... DD

Comment #24

kbcherokee — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 18:47:15 GMT

If one get's Cow Dung on his Boots. One would have had to be in a Barnyard or Pasture somewhere, right?Go figure...Chief

Comment #23

markp1950 — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 11:56:22 GMT

If the MONEY caused ALL of his problems, I would love to help relieve him of the cause of all of his problems...I guarranty, that I won't have 1/2 of those problems...What about that cleaning woman that won $297 Million in Mega-Millions...She is not in the news at all...MarkP

Comment #22

LottoPools — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 21:52:31 GMT

And the saddest part is that Jack still doesn't seem to get that he needs to take a look at his life and where it's going. Look at his last statement in the article. You would think that the death of your granddaughter would make you wake up and smell the coffee instead of trying to find a scapegoat to place the blame on.This is a good cautionary tale for lottery winners. You can bet that WHEN I win, the prize will be claimed under a company name AFTER I've seen an advisor and gotten my ducks... [ More ]

Comment #21

whodeani — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 19:36:04 GMT

My comment is along the same line as fja. If there was a class taught called: Winning the Lottery, Do's and Don'ts 101, this article would be required reading. I too agree that it could have been written better but the moral of the story is well taken. It is just such a shame to read about what should have been a great once in a lifetime dvent for someone turn into a living hell for so many people and how many relationships (and lives) were ruined because one person totally was incapable and re... [ More ]

Comment #20

codmander — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 12:13:04 GMT

best case senerio for winning big $$ is hide for a bit than dump half into dividend stocks(ya know the ge/chevrons of the world this way atleast you will still get payed without losing your capitol you can make 100k pay you 1000 every quater without spending a dime of the 100k----real estate bonds o and of course a good ol passbook savings account plus a few g for the casino just for some respect n fun

Comment #19

DoctorEw220 — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 06:34:37 GMT

and even celebrities.jerry lee lewis married his 13 year-old cousin during the height of his career, shot (and killed) his bassist on acciednt, became a recluse, spent rapidly, etc. look at him now.MC Hammer spent his money on a mansion, 7 cars, racehorses, and he employeed quite an entourage, and within a year he was broke.just think about what money can do to a person.

Comment #18

DoctorEw220 — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 06:30:39 GMT

don't forget about the british lottery winner who got into a load of trouble after his win, and the gang member who won the lottery and was killed not long after.money does things to people.

Comment #17

Fwup — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 02:16:10 GMT

I think it would be a good idea for lottery winners to assemble an emotional team as well as a financial team . Maybe a psychologist, a therapist, and a preist or rabbi. Winning the lottery is a traumatic dvent.

Comment #16

MillionsWanted — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 00:28:40 GMT

In Norway we had a person who in many ways remind me about Jack Whittaker.He won several million norwegian kroner(NOK) on the national lottery (7/34).After having appeared in all the boulevard newspapers and gossip magazines there is in Norway and wasting his money on partying and drinking, he was found dead.It was of course the alcohol that killed him.I think he still would have been around if it wasn't for the lottery money.

Comment #15

jim695 — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 22:40:19 GMT

That article was nearly as long as some of my posts

Comment #14

orangeman — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 22:37:12 GMT

There is a saying: Sports doesn't build character . . .it reveals it.Lotto is a sport in many ways. For some of us the game is a challenge. It is a hobby that can be cheaper than bowling or golf and the rewards can be tremendous if we win. Most golfers or bowlers may win a trophy and a pat on the back unless they turn professional. A lotto winner can be set for life, if, and that is a big if, he keeps his wits around him.Jack was obviously a troubled man with serious self-esteem issues befor... [ More ]

Comment #13

dvdiva — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 19:40:59 GMT

I deal with people with more money than him all the time at work. It's not the money. If someone is irresponsable and hangs around the wrong kind of people then bad things can happen. Having a reputation for having hundreds of thousands of dollars just lying around his cars and house also leads to big problems. I am only aware of some people from third world countries who do that. Most people with that kind of money have it all invested and have access to only a small fraction of their money.... [ More ]

Comment #12

four4me — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 18:36:13 GMT

There have been more than a few people whom have had it all then for whatever reason/reasons lost it all. Ended up in the gutter.I used to talk with a man years ago who was a big construction developer he was living out of his pick up truck. Drunk out of his mind disheveled appearance he was a total mess. Ond day i saw this caddy pull up a woman got out and handed him some money. When i asked him about it he said oh that's one of my family members they pay me to stay away from them, took my buis... [ More ]

Comment #11

fja — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 17:50:40 GMT

This should be mandatory reading for all lottery winners................whether it was well written or not....the same can happen to anyone

Comment #10

Todd — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 17:44:10 GMT

tg636: I think you're right on the money.Chief: Laughed

Comment #9

kbcherokee — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 17:08:39 GMT

Tso-gali-I OK, we have to put a little humor in here. Because we're talking and reading about West Virginian's here, and their neighbor, Virginia is just next door. I have a little joke I would like to share with all of you.There was this Football Coach at one of the leading Universities in Virginia working out with his team one day when a few members of the team approched the Coach and told him of this kid over in West Virginia that was as fast as lightening. They told the Coach he re... [ More ]

Comment #8

tg636 — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 17:06:04 GMT

The money did not cost him dearly. His thoughtless and immature actions with regard to the money cost him dearly. >But a few days later, on November 30, Jack ran his Hummer into a concrete median, near Beckley, state police said. He was charged with driving under the influence and failure to submit to a Breathalyzer. Troopers found $117,000 in Jack's Hummer and a pistol tucked in one of his boots.Does having $100 million force you to buy a Hummer, drive drunk and carry $117,000 cash and a pist... [ More ]

Comment #7

Phokas — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 14:56:36 GMT

I agree that the article was poorly written. All that folksy phrasing didn't achieve anything. Despite this, I think it is clear that money didn't poison the lives of these people at all. Money doesn't change people; it only magnifies the way people really behave. There are many people who win and don't turn into monsters and caricatures. Most go away quietly.

Comment #6

adamswears — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 05:54:25 GMT

That article was a tough read......both for the storyline and the way it was written. I was bored a quarter of the way through it. I hope the Washington Post didn't pay someone for that.

Comment #5

acronym007 — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 02:52:18 GMT

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12:34).

Comment #4

doubledee32 — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 23:31:19 GMT

This has got to be one of the sorriest stories I've ever read!-There are lottery winners who are enjoying thier new found fortune with caution. But this guy just let the money get the best of him. Well there's a lesson to be learned from this tragedy! If you win use your head and remember that no matter how much you accumulate you can always get knocked down!!! Remeber the young lady out of georgia who won all that money!-She left georgia and no-body's heard from her again! Smart-Girl... [ More ]

Comment #3

Littleoldlady — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 22:52:14 GMT

That is an example of what can happen when a person wins a lot of money..they become the money..and lose all sense of self respect, dignity and human kindness..I am so sorry for all of those people..it sounds like a giant nightmare...in fact..it could even be a stephen king novel..

Comment #2

kbcherokee — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 21:07:57 GMT

Tso-gali-IVery well put... Riches do not consist in the pocession of treasures but in the use made of them. Chief

Comment #1

rudyjones79 — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 20:45:17 GMT

At times when people believe that money is the answer to all their prayers, just a little thought to keep in mind:1. Joey Coyle - The man who was so lucky to have found more than a half a million dollars laying on the street, later was sent to a mental institution on the grounds of temporary insanity as a DIRECT result of his find.2. An armored car in IL lost more than three hundred thousand dollars as it flew out of the truck due to an unmaintained lock, all but a few thousand was recovered and... [ More ]

Record lottery winner's wealth cost him dearly

Lottery Post — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 14:36:00 GMT

It was coming up on Christmas, and Brenda-the-biscuit-lady was inexplicably happy as she walked to work in the predawn darkness. Brenda didn't just make biscuits over at the C L Super Serve for $6 an hour. She served up good cheer. How you doin', honey? she'd greet customers, with such enthusiasm that they had no choice but to smile back. Dad-gonnit, you are growing up on me! she'd call to schoolchildren, just to see them grin. What grade you in now? At 39, Brenda Higginbotham didn't have muc... [ More ]