With all the Powerball frenzy going on, this seems a perfect time to highlight some really stupid lottery winners. Don’t be one of them.
• Evelyn Adams of New Jersey. She defied the odds and won in 1985 and 1986, winning a total of $5.4 million dollars. She spent it all gambling in Atlantic City casinos. She wound up spending the rest of her days living in a dilapidated trailer park.
• Tonda Lynn, a waitress at a Waffle House. She thought she could easily get away with keeping her millions from being shared with 2 other waitresses when the three of them had verbally agreed to share the winnings should any of them ever win from tickets they got as gifts/tips from patrons. Since verbal agreements regarding gambling did not hold up in court, she won the case her colleagues filed against her, but not without spending a pretty penny on a legal team.
• Kelly Rogers, age 16, of the United Kingdom. After winning $1.9 million dollars, she went on a spending spree – clothing, cars, vacations, breast enhancement surgery, parties, and cocaine – lots of cocaine. She wound up broke and addicted.
• Janita Lee – wig shop owner from St. Louis. Won $18 million in 1993. She went on the usual spending spree, then switched to philanthropic binges that went unchecked. She lost everything and had to file bankruptcy.
• Amanda Clayton of Michigan – arrested for welfare fraud. She continued to collect welfare benefits after winning $1 million in the Michigan lottery. She was discovered when routine eligibility verifications uncovered the million in her bank account. She was sentenced to 5 years in jail. That didn’t kill her though – a drug overdose did.
There were plenty of male winners of the lottery that did similar foolish things, so don’t think it is just women!
Best advice – get a tax professional, an investment counselor, and a lawyer lined up before you go to collect your winnings. Unless, of course, you’re like me and usually only hit for $20. Good luck to all who play!
Have a fangtastic day! <3 Brock V"""V
Best advice – get a tax professional, an investment counselor, and a lawyer lined up before you go to collect your winnings. Unless, of course, you’re like me and usually only hit for $20. Good luck to all who play!
Have a fangtastic day! <3 Brock V"""V
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