RICHMOND, Va. — The start of 2009 was not a good one for Joe Denette.
The Thornburg man was laid off in January from his job at Brookfield Homes, where he had worked as a service technician for the last seven years. A message he posted on his Facebook page said it all: "You don't work, you don't eat."
But that didn't stop him from participating in two of his cherished hobbies--watching NASCAR races and playing the lottery.
His luck began to change when he won four tickets to the May 2 NASCAR race in Richmond in a radio contest.
And his whole life changed the day of the race, when he found out he was holding a lottery ticket worth $75.6 million.
Denette, 47, matched all six numbers in the May 1 Mega Millions drawing, winning the third-largest prize in Virginia Lottery history. He opted for a cash buyout worth $47.8 million instead of taking the full jackpot over 26 years.
In that Mega Millions drawing, three winning lottery tickets from California, Ohio, and Virginia equally shared the $227 million jackpot.
"It's unreal," he said at a news conference in Richmond yesterday. "It couldn't have come at a better time."
When Denette realized he had won the money, he had to make a decision about what to do with his race tickets and his winning lottery ticket.
So what did he do?
He signed the lottery ticket and handed it over to his mother for safekeeping.
"She asked me where I was going, and I said the race," he recounted yesterday.
After securing an attorney and financial guidance, Denette picked up his big check from the Virginia Lottery yesterday.
Lottery officials also helped fulfill another one of his dreams. He rode a few laps around the track at Richmond International Raceway with Hermie Sadler, a NASCAR driver and commentator and brother of driver Elliot Sadler.
"This is the best thing that has happened to me," Denette said.
He bought the winning ticket at Joyful Convenience Market on Mudd Tavern Road in Thornburg. The store receives a $50,000 retailer bonus for selling the winning ticket.
The winning numbers were 9, 16, 24, 40, 43 and the Mega Ball number was 35. Denette said they were randomly chosen by the computer.
"I used to hate computers," Denette told lottery officials. "Not anymore."
Store manager Bruce Park sold the winning ticket to Denette, who Park said is a regular customer.
"I feel like a lucky guy to sell him the winning ticket," Park said. "But I wish I had played those numbers."
Denette, who said he spends about $23 a week buying tickets, has been playing the lottery for at least 20 years. He plans to continue that practice. He had a ticket in his pocket yesterday that he had bought that morning.
He hasn't decided how to spend the money yet. But the options are limitless since he is single and has no children.
Denette's life to this point has been that of, well, an average Joe. He likes working in the yard, building things and enjoying life, he said.
He said he'll probably use his newfound wealth to go to more races. He also said he has turned off his cell phone, and he knows who his real friends are.
But Denette, who has been unemployed for four months, said being a multimillionaire still hasn't sunk in.
"One day you don't have a job, the next day you don't have to worry about a job," he said. "You never know."
Thanks to hearsetrax for the tip.
wow...I wonder how many people want to be his friend on facebook. I find it ironic...
"you dont work...you dont eat" but you spend $23 a week on tickets...i hope thats when he was working...anyways congrats to him...
"He hasn't decided how to spend the money yet"
He is a nascar fan. I see more and more race teams with no sponsors this year. Maybe drop 50 thou here and there to help some of the teams.
Gotta be careful sponsoring though. Nascar racing can be veerrrrry expensive.
Wow, 47.8 million dollars! That can buy a whole bunch of lottery tickets! durrrrrrrrr-
"Denette, who said he spends about $23 a week buying tickets, has been playing the lottery for at least 20 years. He plans to continue that practice. He had a ticket in his pocket yesterday that he had bought that morning."
Why is he a putz?
Wow! $75 Million is a life changer! WTG!
Congratulations big time to him!!!! Good luck to him, hope he wins another huge jackpot!!!!!
47? That's a good age. Old enough to know what to do and young enough to enjoy it. I wish him lots of fun! He seems like a fairly intelligent guy there, his win will be fun to watch how he spends it. I like it when people win and I think they are going to be alright with it.
That said, I have to wonder if something isn't wrong with someone who seems perfect on the surface and isn't marrried or has no children yet. At that age, he should have at least two or three running around somewhere. He seems normal enough. (likes to work out in the yard, enjoys building things.... two very good qualities.)
Here in the south, we are all pretty much taught that aren't we? ("you don't work, you don't eat") Never stopped me from playing either.
This strange phenomenon always makes me wonder why double-digit, multi-million NETTING jackpot winners buy more tickets. Is it addicted habit or greed? As far as I know, NOBODY has won a double-digit, multi-million netting jackpot MORE than once in their lifetime!
Perhaps these folks merely buy the additional ticket to hold up for publicity purposes; because they think that it would be some sort of insult during the lottery headquarters forced publicity interview to publicly say that it is both greedy and statistically improbable to attempt to win any more jackpots, and besides that this person thinks that these high jackpots should go to additional people.
He sure does talk the talk, but can he walk the walk (Handle the money wisely). I thnk the trick is getting as many advisors as you can to avoid the foolishness in new found windfall mindset.
Maybe I am reading you wrong, but why must something be wrong with someone just because they aren't married or because they don't have children? Not everyone wants that. I am not married at the moment and have no plans for children and lots of people feel the same way. That doesn't mean there is something wrong with us.
There's certainly an awfully good argument that somebody who's spending $23 a week on lottery tickets and is out of work isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, or has trouble with impulse (or irrational) spending. Of course the article isn't clear enough to be sure that he was still spending that much after he lost his job. That he talked with a lawyer and got financial advise before rushing out to claim the prize suggests that he'll be okay.
Just because the man was out of a job doesn't mean he was totally broke.With him not being married and no kids maybe he was smart enough to save his money?I have a brother who is 45 who isn't married and no kids and a great job and is real tight on his money and has his own home and some adut toys and takes nice vacations.I know $23 a week for him wouldn't hurt him if he was playing the lottery even if he lost his job.So maybe this guy was like him?Now he can go to more Nascar races with his winnings.I want to be his friend.LOL
I want $75 Million too! :(
I think you miss the point, and someone else above who questioned him buying lottery tickets after winning also misses the point.
Obviously, the lottery is one of this guy's forms of entertainment. I certainly hope it's yours too, because if you're in this thing as an investment, you'll be sorely disappointed.
$23 a week is a lot?? You'll spend that much on one movie ticket and a popcorn and coke. I don't understand why people are jumping on this guy. He seems nice and straight-forward, kind of a salt-of-the-earth type guy. What's not to like?
I think he kinda looks like Dale Earnhart, with those sun-glasses.
Mabey he'll get an R.V. and start going to all the Races.
I am sure the ladies are trying to make him "un-single". It is alright to be single. If you save at least 6 months of your salary for hard times, then when the hard times come, you won't be broke. I am sure he saved his money and that is why he got a financial advisor. Just because someone loses their job, that doesn't mean they are immediately destitute.
Well, Jack Madoff is free and has time on his hands.
I'm not sure I agree with the "many advisors" theory. I suspect it often doesn't work out all that well.
I love it. Even the darkest times he still believes in his dreams, was to win the lottery! His dream came true, dream do come true.
It's just pure jealousy Todd. That's why certain people are jumping all over the guy.
And another thing about the comment someone made earlier about him not being normal for not being married and having kids at his age. Give me a break! Perhaps he's heard of BIRTH CONTROL....u think?
Perhaps he likes the freedom of being single...geez! Leave the man alone already. I'll bet he's more happy and at peace than the millions of unhappy married couples that are miserable, cheating on each other and "pretending" to be the all American family while their children suffer watching this charade.
There's nothing wrong with being single and NOT having children. Some of us don't need them when we have plenty of siblings, neices & nephews and cousins to pass the money around to.
Also anohter thing not all people can reproduce. And anyways I think there are more single people than there are married people. The divorce rate is more than 50%. I had someonw at work ask my why i dont have kids and I was 37 at the time. She claims thats "Ho w God would have wanted it". I told her a few things I cant mention here.. She leaves me alone. Its nto different than when I walk home and someone says "hello, I am a christian" and I want to say "I harm(subsitute another word here) people like you in my dreams for soliciting"....tsk tsk
Between this thread and the Tennessee may cap lottery winnings at $600 for poor thread, I have a greater appreciation for those whose favorite topic is "Why you should remain anonymous".
Best $23 bucks he ever spent. Better return than on anything else he could have legally "invested" in.
Never met the man, and surely cannot make a judgment call on the mans character, Can say this, he won. He deserves to be granted some accolades for accomplishing what so many of us long for. Congrats to the winner!
Congrats to the winner and the two sheriffs deputies in California as well.
Joe reminds me of David Edwards. David also won millions of dollars in the lottery.David also said he was going to get a financial advisor.Joe and David are about the same age.Joe opted to a cash buy out just like David did. I'll give Joe about the same amount of time (5 to 6 years) to lose the lottery money.
Yeah, but is this guy a drug addict engaged to another drug addict or an ex-con?
I think it's awesome that this man won! Couldn't have come at a better time for him!
I'm with you ScaryChick. I'm not married, no plans to, no kids, and no plans for kids. Not everyone wants the same things in life. Just because the majority of the population gets married and has a family doesn't mean that I have to. It's my life, and society has no influence on me and what I want out of my life. MANY couples I know are just barely getting along. Couples tend to spend more than singles.
I work a lot, I make a decent living, I don't spend money on much, and I save a lot. Suze Orman says you should have 8 months salary saved as an emergency fund. I have that, and I'm sure this guy does too.
I hope this guy wins again! There are people who have won multiple lotteries, and lottery games. There's a guy from Ohio that won $8,000 on a scratch off, and the same day went to another store and won $5,000 with the same game.