Seven years ago, Gerald Muswagon was all smiles as his troubled life took a fairy-tale turn when he won a $10 million lottery jackpot.
On Sunday, Mr. Muswagon hanged himself in his parent's garage.
It was a shocking end for a man who appeared to have the world at his fingertips, yet clearly never could grasp the instant fame and fortune he was handed through his lucky $2 Super 7 ticket.
"People are very upset, and this is all very surprising," said his cousin, Mike Muswagon. "But he had been very depressed lately, although he kept that part of him well hidden."
Mr. Muswagon, 42, somehow managed to do what seemed unthinkable and spent nearly every penny of his winnings in only a few years.
The former resident of Norway House in northern Manitoba was forced to take a job this summer doing heavy lifting on a friend's farm just to make ends meet while supporting his girlfriend and six young children in their modest Winnipeg home.
"I really wanted him to be set up for life, so he never had to work another day," said his cousin. "He should have been able to do that. But he made some very bad decisions."
Mr. Muswagon's spending habits were the stuff of local legend, as rumours began to spread throughout Winnipeg shortly after he won.
Most of them were true. He bought several new vehicles for himself and friends, purchased a house that turned into a nightly "party pad" and often celebrated his new lifestyle with copious amounts of drugs and alcohol. In a single day, he bought eight big-screen televisions for friends.
"He didn't have the right people around him at the time, people who could have guided him," recalled his cousin. "A lot of people asked a lot of him."
Mr. Muswagon tried starting up his own business only to watch it flop. The company, called Gerald's Logging, was cutting lumber in the Norway House area but was bleeding money because of low sales.
There were other bad decisions, including the October 2000 night in which he led police on a lengthy chase while driving his brand new Chevy Silverado at speeds reaching 180 km/h. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and was sentenced to three months in jail.
He continued his criminal ways in November of 2002 when he repeatedly fondled a 19-year-old woman he had asked to help tidy his house while he mourned the sudden death of his wife, Virginia, only weeks earlier.
This past summer, he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was given three months in jail, which he was allowed to serve intermittently on weekends so he could continue working during the week.
Mr. Muswagon's criminal record dated back to 1981 and included seven other convictions for crimes including assault causing bodily harm, drunk driving, theft and break and enter.
"Unfortunately, he had a very difficult time adjusting, coming from Norway House with very little education," said Tim Valgardson, Mr. Muswagon's lawyer.
Wow it really is amazing how many tragedies surround lottery winners. With those spending habits 10M was not going to go very far.
He continued his criminal ways in November of 2002 when he repeatedly fondled a 19-year-old woman he had asked to help tidy his house while he mourned the sudden death of his wife, Virginia, only weeks earlier.
This past summer, he pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was given three months in jail, which he was allowed to serve intermittently on weekends so he could continue working during the week.
Mr. Muswagon's criminal record dated back to 1981 and included seven other convictions for crimes including assault causing bodily harm, drunk driving, theft and break and enter.
The problems the guy had didn't involve money. At least not as a major item in the mix. He had the problems before he had the money, and money didn't solve them.
Doesn't appear the self-homicide had much to do with having won the lottery, or being a poor money manager. Worthy lesson to be learned here, but the lesson doesn't have much to do with winning lotteries, nor what a person does with the money, afterward. If a loser's defined as a person who doesn't approach the segments within himself leading to self-destruction, and change them, this guy was a loser, long after he won the lottery.
Too bad. Next lifetime he'll have to take another shot at it.
Jack
He would have been better off with an Annuity instead of a Lump Sum.
He would have been better off with an Annuity instead of a Lump Sum.
Even if someone says that everyone should always choose cash, and then always invest the money, the fact is that most lottery winners are not accustomed to anything except living from paycheck-to-paycheck, so they really don't understand the concept of investing. The Annuity option is a good way for some people to be forced to conserve their financial resources.
he was only 35 when he won a jackpot of 10 million bucks.
he didn't take an annual payment of $50,000 a year per million for
25 years, to get a total of a quarter of a million dollars a year for 25 years
before taxes. so he must have taken a lump sum which had a present
day cash value of 5 million bucks before taxes, which net him little over
2.5 million bucks. it looks like he was a lucky fool from day one...
hitchaser,
he was only 35 when he won a jackpot of 10 million bucks.
he didn't take an annual payment of $50,000 a year per million for
25 years, to get a total of a quarter of a million dollars a year for 25 years
before taxes. so he must have taken a lump sum which had a present
day cash value of 5 million bucks before taxes, which net him little over
2.5 million bucks. it looks like he was a lucky fool from day one...
hitchaser,
$50,000/yr/mil times 10 mil equals $500,000/yr
Item 1: He ran out of money
Item 2: He self destructed.
Item 3: He probably wouldn't have run out of money if he'd taken the annuity.
Item 4: He'd have had more money to take to the grave, maybe hanged himself on a silk rope.
There's no reason at all to believe the two issues are related. Anyone who chooses to self-destruct has deeper problems than money can solve. The story contains plenty of hints about what those problems might have been.
So the lottery related story here is that he ran out of money because of lousy management. A familiar story, but not a particularly interesting one, even as an excuse to continue the annuity/lump debate.
Jack
he was only 35 when he won a jackpot of 10 million bucks.
he didn't take an annual payment of $50,000 a year per million for
25 years, to get a total of a quarter of a million dollars a year for 25 years
before taxes. so he must have taken a lump sum which had a present
day cash value of 5 million bucks before taxes, which net him little over
2.5 million bucks. it looks like he was a lucky fool from day one...
hitchaser,
The $10 million he won was the cash value and it was free of any taxes. The jackpot was won in Canada where the jackpots are as exactly as advertised.
Good luck,
Jake
Item 1: He ran out of money
Item 2: He self destructed.
Item 3: He probably wouldn't have run out of money if he'd taken the annuity.
Item 4: He'd have had more money to take to the grave, maybe hanged himself on a silk rope.
There's no reason at all to believe the two issues are related. Anyone who chooses to self-destruct has deeper problems than money can solve. The story contains plenty of hints about what those problems might have been.
So the lottery related story here is that he ran out of money because of lousy management. A familiar story, but not a particularly interesting one, even as an excuse to continue the annuity/lump debate.
Jack
I would disagree with your point that this doesn't have anything to do with the cash/annuity debate. In fact, I think this is the perfect illustrative example of why both options should be there. I see the cash option and his demise as tightly linked in this case.
Jake may have ended the debate, with a very good point: was an annuity even available?
Annunity was not available from the Lottery Corporation for this particular game. If the winner wants an annuity, they would have to purchase it from a financial institution.
Some Canadian lotteries now have annuity options. For example, the scratch game in Ontario called Cash for Life. There is also the unique Payday lottery that pays a $1,000 per week (tax free) for the rest of the winner's life. It has no fixed payout period. So if an 18 year old wins it and lives a long life, they can receive a lot of money.
Good luck,
Jake
copious amounts of drugs and alcohol, 8 big screen TV's, numerous cars, a house, his own business, cash only friends, and the thought that he was above the law.
almost sounds like he sold his soul for 7 years of kicks and giggles.....
The devil went up to Manitoba,
he was looking for a soul to steal
he was in a bind
because he was way behind,
and he was willing to make a deal.
Jake may have ended the debate, with a very good point: was an annuity even available?
Even if their is no Annuity Option available: Anyone can take their Lump Sum Disbursement and Purchase an Annuity.
copious amounts of drugs and alcohol, 8 big screen TV's, numerous cars, a house, his own business, cash only friends, and the thought that he was above the law.
almost sounds like he sold his soul for 7 years of kicks and giggles.....
The devil went up to Manitoba,
he was looking for a soul to steal
he was in a bind
because he was way behind,
and he was willing to make a deal.
I agree, more or less.
Jack
The say the increase in money only places emphasis on what the person actually is. Money doesn't make you a winner, loser, smarter, dumber, useful or useless. You were already there - you just get to become more extravegent about it. Unhappy will be unhappy. Happy people will be happy. I keep refering to Jack Whitiker, because is a prime example of what no one should want to be.
I know this sort of thing happens regularly, but self destructing people who burn through a big pile of money always amaze me.
>The former resident of Norway House in northern Manitoba was forced to take a job this summer doing heavy lifting on a friend's farm just to make ends meet while supporting his girlfriend and six young children in their modest Winnipeg home.
That's the saddest part - those kids could have had and should have had a good life.
Lottery winners aren't the only ones who can't handle instant wealth. Look at the football players, boxers and others who have self destructed. Mike Tison is an excellent recent example. He burned through millions on drugs, booze, etc. and how he is bankrupt.
Orangeman
Yep this is nothing new, but it's still bothersome. Too bad there wasn't someone around him to help him manage his life better, but he seemed to be a (small time) career criminal anyways, so maybe there was no helping him.
I wonder how his wife died so young? And why was he fondling a maid soon after her death? Sounds pretty bad!
no one was around to help him because no one cared for him only his money. In this case I believe it's clear, drugs and alchol will destory anyone regardless of income. It's possible had he not won, today we would have read the same headline. This begs the question from me which I'll post in the forum.
ok this guy was not smart, i bet he went out and told everyone, thats the first mistake, and the second is that he was not perpaired for the windfall (i don't think anyone really is) and the he just kept spending money like it was going to go bad. and the jackpot was only $10 Million, he went out and bought cars and a house really quick without thinking what the consequences would be, and he found out really quick. a house should be one of the last things on your list to buy. be smart if you win not stupid or you will end up like this guy.
I agree with the earlier post comparing this guy to Jack Whittaker.
This reads just like Jack's bio.......except for death, but that very well could be the next thing we hear about ol Jack.
Money didn't do it, it was irresponsibile use of it.
DD
I agree with the earlier post comparing this guy to Jack Whittaker.
This reads just like Jack's bio.......except for death, but that very well could be the next thing we hear about ol Jack.
Money didn't do it, it was irresponsibile use of it.
DD
Correct me if I am wrong...
With Jack, wasnt it the granddauters friend who died first and then the granddauter about a year latter. Both were drug related (overdoses?).
Stars
To those that continually advocate annuties, think about what probably would have happened in this case. After the first year or two the guy more than likely would have sold it to one of these cash-out companies for 40 cents on the dollar just to get a large sum at once.
Taking the payout as annuity will still not guarantee that they will continue to receive it for the entire period. Many annuities end up being sold because the person just cannot handle waiting each year for the payments. Do a Google search for "Annuity Buyout" and there are many companies willing to give you cash for your annuity.
there is no problem with celebrating a lottery win with a party, alcohol and drugs. you just have to be smart about it when you do it, especially with the drugs
all im saying is don't over do it.
I don't know what happended to my post. However, I have always enjoyed the discussion threads of the LP members, this is the exception. This man's sad ending reflects the torment he had going on. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.
I only hope that when one of us wins a jackpot, we will set a high standard of excellence in what to do right with our winnings. Common sense, planning and surrounding yourself with good people and choices will go a long way to not ending up in discussions like this, for the wrong reasons.
Good luck in the powerball drawings.
Stars, you are correct. Friend of grand daughter, the grand daughter. All drug related. Maturity is hard to achieve when there is a silver platter in front of you.
I don't know what happended to my post. However, I have always enjoyed the discussion threads of the LP members, this is the exception. This man's sad ending reflects the torment he had going on. Everyone is entitled to their opinions.
I only hope that when one of us wins a jackpot, we will set a high standard of excellence in what to do right with our winnings. Common sense, planning and surrounding yourself with good people and choices will go a long way to not ending up in discussions like this, for the wrong reasons.
Good luck in the powerball drawings.
Just so you're aware, I have not done anything to your post. I have no idea why it's blank.
It's obvious that he would have needed a perpetual annuity but from the sound of it I doubt it would have saved him. Some people just are immature at best and clearly can't handle money wisely. He had a long criminal record and sounded like he couldn't even handle life responsibly let alone money.
why do people like this guy, people who never play the lottery (maybe they play once in a year) and really old people who can't enjoy the money anyways win the lottery? whats up with that?
why do people like this guy, people who never play the lottery (maybe they play once in a year) and really old people who can't enjoy the money anyways win the lottery? whats up with that?
The guy gives the appearance of having done his best to enjoy his money.
Likely he merely behaved himself more the way a 19 year old would have done, than as a man of his actual years, experience, and accumulated wisdom.
Old people win because they're smarter, luckier, wiser and generally more deserving of winning than 19 year olds, who don't have a clue about much of anything, including how to enjoy money.
All of which is BS, but which contains roughly the same amount of truth as your post.
Give yourself a few decades, Down, or even five years, and you'll have a different view of yourself as you are now. If you'd like to get a preview, think of yourself five years ago. What you see is allmost exactly what you'll see five years hence when you look back on yourself now.
It won't be a pretty sight, but it will be a growth experience.
Jack
Going from $0 to $10,000,000 has to be a shocking experience. You've always wanted things, never had the money to buy them and suddenly you do have the money, what's to stop you?
>"A lot of people asked a lot of him."
It seems like the best thing to do is put the money somewhere safe, then leave town for an extended period of time and make it clear you will not be giving money away or buying presents for anyone for a long time. You need to go somewhere where people won't ask a lot of you and think about things. That's easy to say, but who knows if it is easy to do after you win.
todd could you find a link to that last jack w.link it was long 10pages
There is a whole slew of threads on "Jack" Whitaker within LP. Google search turned up:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2005-05,GGLD:en&q=+site:www.lotterypost.com+jack+whitaker+lottery+winner