UK lottery winner says he's happier now that the money's gone

Comment #31

Teddi — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 20:14:58 GMT

Your rule #1 doesn't apply to most Americans. Only a handful of states allow us to collect winnings anonymously. Meaning, unless we drove hours to and from those states every time we wanted to buy a ticket, claiming anonymously isn't possible. I wish it wasn't so, because like you, I believe many of the issues arise from just the notoriety of being a lottery winner. Except in this particular case. This guy's problem was that he was financially retarded. Had nothing to do with people knowing he w... [ More ]

Comment #30

Brcebrce — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 15:42:46 GMT

+1

I was reading an article interviewing a financial adviser she said top two threats to the winnings were inflation and stupidity. He lost it before inflation could be a factor, that's just sad.

Comment #29

myturn — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 01:27:22 GMT

Rule 1

Do not go public, keep your anonymity. Going public attracts the wrong sort of people.

Get professional legal and financial advice and enjoy your financial freedom in peace and quiet.

Comment #28

pantherestates — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 06:52:11 GMT

This dude is a straight up idiot!He had a beautiful blessing and he just blew it...where he is at now he sure does deserve to be there.

Comment #27

HenryPatt — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 08:10:28 GMT

That's just sad

Comment #26

Teddi — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 21:52:27 GMT

Amen. Honestly, I am so sick and tired of these jackpot winners claiming that money is a curse. The money is NEVER cursed. Poor decision making skills, nonexistent money management and lack of impulse control are what the curse is. But those are all curses they had before they won. The money only shone a spotlight on it.

From deposited funds to bankruptcy, that money was a blessing. If nothing else his kids got a better life, innocent people never got robbed at gunpoint and he's now a better... [ More ]

Comment #25

Teddi — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 21:22:39 GMT

Okay, I'm immersing myself in the Power of Positive thinking and LOA so I'm 99% sure I'm not allowed to call this guy a dumba$$, besides, even if I could, apparently how it works is that calling him a dumbass lottery winner will only bring more dumbass lottery winners and while I do find these stories somewhat entertaining, overall their stupidity gets on my nerves.

Questions/Observations

Is he confused as to whether his win was a blessing or curse? He says it was a blessing he won becaus... [ More ]

Comment #24

helpmewin — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 11:28:45 GMT

Comment #23

veganlife125 — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 03:32:35 GMT

No one is happy to be back broke! What a provarication by this dude and all the others who say it! He would take the money again if it was offered! 80% of people are broke because they have no genetic tendencies to save or be a tight wad. Keeping money is a born talent just like dunking a basketball or singing really well.

You want to meet born tight wads that would keep a big lottery win? Get up early on Saturday mornings and hit the garage sale circuit. you will see the same savers, coupon

Comment #22

savagegoose — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 02:09:42 GMT

some great posts i wish i could reply to you all, try wishing to be blessed by a $1 mill win. i hear blessings are better than curses.

and Miss Fortune and Lady Luck being sisters, im stealing that

Comment #21

jjtheprince — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 15:29:50 GMT

Exactly! LOL

It's only a curse if you're a fool who tries to live like a billionaire. If you win and live a middle class lifestyle you'll be OK.

Comment #20

HaveABall — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 06:36:32 GMT

Great question, noise-gate. Perhaps a wealthy individual who thinks of only/mainly them self. This young adult [at time of win] person should have imagined the $10M net income being evenly divided by FIVE people (his immediate family). Then he would have understood that he only had up to $2M to IMMEDIATELY spend on a new family: trusts, living trust, pour-over will, $1M life insurance policy for he and also $1M for his wife, 5-bedroom house, two large fully-loaded medium priced vehicles, groceri... [ More ]

Comment #19

RedStang — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 06:00:47 GMT

The UK guy is lucky because some winners end up dead

If this was the story of my life i would jump off a bridge with no water below it.

Comment #18

jjtheprince — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 05:40:13 GMT

Is it just me or does it seem like the UK has a higher proportion of morons that win?

Sure seems like it.

Anyway, yeah you should live modestly on something like a $10 mil jp win. If that's all you have, you're not wealthy, just upper middle class.

Planes, Ferraris and such are toys meant for BILLIONAIRES. They never stop to think that an oil change on a Ferrari is like $750. Fuel and a pilot for your plane can run over $100,000 a year. Don't forget property taxes...ugh I can't even ima... [ More ]

Comment #17

zirabamuzaale — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 04:16:44 GMT

Me too. Those tragic stories of lotto winners could be avoided if one won the lottery, he/she should carry on as normally a life as he/she had been doing, then figure out in a careful manner what one should do with that windfall of money in about a couple of months or maybe years. These lotto winnings remind me after her defeat of Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2004, in a couple of interviews, she said, she had wired the money she had won to her bank and forgot all about it. Since, then, beside... [ More ]

Comment #16

maringoman — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 23:22:32 GMT

Miss Fortune sure knows how to track anybody who has been been visited by Lady Luck. She must be her evil twin sister. The UK guy is lucky because some winners end up dead

Comment #15

NJJim — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 21:03:35 GMT

I would be scared to death to win the Mega Millions or PowerBall, though I do buy a ticket of each. I've read many places that at such high odds buying more than one ticket does you no good! I tell myself I would avoid buying ridiculous things like planes and giraffes but I know I'd have to spent a fortune to get a gated estate with security and other measures to protect my family...people would want to home invade or grab your kids and crazy crap like that.

But you never know what changes yo... [ More ]

Comment #14

hearsetrax — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 20:56:14 GMT

Comment #13

Seattlejohn — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 20:45:36 GMT

That's the thing about sudden wealth; it doesn't create character, it exposes your character. The people who say the lottery was a curse for me like this guy are typically those who have impulse control problems and/or major issues; so, they spend their money like it's going out of style, thinking it will buy them happiness fill in the holes in their lives. It doesn't, and it also creates new problems they can't handle.

Comment #12

noise-gate — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 19:48:08 GMT

Totally Drenick- The NBA for one is littered with retired players who made gzimillions and are almost penniless. One such player was a teammate of Michael Jordan during their unprecedented reign in the 90's, l read where he also bought a plane* as if that is the status symbol of success. Read where he was crying in court over a decision that went his way, he recouped some of his money but the scars remain. The other nut played in the NFL, was on the 49's squad, won a ring and started bad mouthin... [ More ]

Comment #11

Shelby Mustang — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 19:02:01 GMT

How come people who made bad decisions before winning the lottery make bigger blunders after then say the money was cursed?? How come they cannot take responsibliity and say hey I was someone who makes bad decisions anyway and the money just made me make even worse decisions

Comment #10

savagegoose — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 18:27:26 GMT

i hope i never have to lose that much to discover being thankful for what i have

Comment #9

WesternRedDoug — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 18:12:03 GMT

I guess I should remove 'building a fish farm in Kyrzygstan' from my bucket list. Probably not a big priority.

Poor guy. Hope is finding grace and compassion.

Comment #8

ThatScaryChick — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 17:53:32 GMT

Yeah, he was spending money as if he had won a 300 million dollar jackpot instead of the 10 million dollar one

Comment #7

Get paid — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 17:52:56 GMT

Prime example,if you don,t play you don,t win anyone can win even an idiot.

Comment #6

Drenick1 — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 17:48:42 GMT

Who in their right mind purchases a helicopter a plane on a $10 mil jackpot win?

Someone who is delusional about their wealth. This not only applies to lottery winners but to professional athletes as well.

Comment #5

noise-gate — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 16:40:23 GMT

....not too bright though. Who in their right mind purchases a helicopter a plane on a $10 mil jackpot win

Comment #4

cbr$ — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 15:25:43 GMT

I wonder if people lost all common sense , when they win the jackpots.

Comment #3

sully16 — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:26:35 GMT

Yikes, his drama is far from over.

Comment #2

hearsetrax — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:22:56 GMT

hes just the other thug

Comment #1

PrinceRene — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 13:38:28 GMT

I wish I was cursed with millions of dollars.

UK lottery winner says he's happier now that the money's gone

Lottery Post — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 12:28:45 GMT

A small-time criminal who won 6.5 million (US$10.2 million) in the UK National Lottery but ended up homeless told yesterday how the win had been a curse .

Lee Ryan spent two years sleeping rough after blowing his fortune.

He now rents a two-room flat and earns less than 10,000 a year but insists that he is happier today than when he was a millionaire.

Mr. Ryan, 54, hit the jackpot in March 1995. At the time he was awaiting trial for handling stolen cars.

Nicknamed the Lotto Lag, he w... [ More ]