What kind of future can a lottery winner expect? Accidental millionaires go on a spree and die

The jackpot of the largest American lottery, Powerball, has increased to a record $1.5 billion. The drawing of the fabulous amount will take place in just a few hours, and lottery operators note that the demand for tickets is as record-breaking as the size of the jackpot. To get this win, you need to correctly guess the numbers of five white balls plus one red, which is called Powerball.

The size of the winnings is so huge that it doesn’t fit entirely on the scoreboard - that’s why the counter is frozen at one million

The largest win in US history to date is $656 million: in 2012, three tickets won the Mega Millions lottery, and the prize had to be divided among three. The maximum Powerball jackpot of $590.5 million was won in 2013. The winner was 80-year-old Florida resident Gloria McKenzie. A pensioner bought a lottery ticket for $2 at a supermarket: according to the woman, she got the lucky ticket after the man standing in front of her in line “was so kind that he let me go ahead.”

Like most Powerball winners, the woman decided not to stretch out the winnings in installments over 30 years and chose the option of an immediate lump sum payment. If the winner decides to take the money outright, the winnings immediately become smaller: the $1.5 billion jackpot will remain $930 million, not including taxes, which vary from state to state. As he writes The New York Times, in every sense it makes more sense to take the winnings in parts - first of all, since it is much more profitable from a tax point of view. But another factor is equally important: receiving millions in parts can protect the winner from myself.

According to statistics, about 70% of lottery winners find themselves on the verge of bankruptcy within the next seven years after winning: thoughtless spending and inability to handle huge amounts of money take their toll. A video that has already gone viral sums up this thesis perfectly: when asked by a journalist about where the Powerball jackpot could be spent, a lottery participant replies: “On a bunch of whores and cocaine.”

However, this is not the only misfortune that can await the “lucky” one: Powerball has long been known as a cursed lottery, and the tragic stories of some of its winners force one to agree with this.

Betrayal by a close friend

A 47-year-old Florida resident named Abraham Shakespeare won $30 million in 2006 and immediately began to be attacked by friends and relatives who demanded money from him. Some time later, he met a girl named Doris (Dee Dee) Moore, who assured Shakespeare that she could save him from his greedy relatives if he transferred money to her account. After the lottery winner did this, he disappeared without a trace. About six months later, Abraham's body was found rolled into concrete in the backyard with two bullets in his chest. In 2012, Doris Moore was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Shakespeare’s brother then said: “It would be better if I remained a poor man” - Abraham said these words constantly.”

Alcoholism with all that it entails

The story of West Virginia resident Jack Whittaker is interesting because he was already a millionaire before he won $315 million in the lottery. The man spent most of the money on good causes: building churches, Christian charities, money for low-income families. But then Whittaker's life began to fall apart: he became addicted to alcohol, was sued for harassment, became the victim of two major thefts for $200 thousand and $545 thousand, and in the latter case, money was stolen directly from his car parked next to a strip club . Jack's granddaughter, who received $2,100 thousand a week from him, died of a drug overdose (as did her boyfriend), and Whittaker's daughter died under unclear circumstances. In recent interviews, Whittaker admitted that he regrets not tearing up the ticket. “I don’t like who I have become,” the man said.

From rags to riches and back

The life of drug addict and criminal David Lee changed dramatically when he won $27 million in 2001: the man immediately bought a $1.6 million mansion, a private jet, three racing horses, a fiber optic company, limousine rental and, as icing on the cake, — Lamborghini Diablo for $200 thousand. But old habits took their toll: Edwards and his wife returned to drugs and more than once crossed the line for possession of prohibited substances. After several years of living in a garage surrounded by human excrement, the former millionaire died in a hospice at the age of 58.

Killer relative

Illinois resident Jeffrey Dampier, who won $20 million in the lottery, showered his family with money and gifts, but this was not enough for his sister-in-law. Seven years after winning the lottery, a girl and her boyfriend kidnapped the newly minted millionaire and killed him. Both are currently serving life sentences.

Death by cyanide

Chicago clerk Urouj Khan won a modest $1 million, and the very next day he was found dead. An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was cyanide poisoning. Suspicion fell on the next of kin, but no one was ever brought to justice for the murder.

With blackjack and...

26-year-old Michael Carroll spent his entire $15 million jackpot on parties, cocaine, cars and prostitutes. He invested the remaining money in a villa in Spain, but never had time to enjoy it properly: in 2006, he went to jail for drug possession.

Won twice and lost it all

New Jersey resident Evelyn Adams won millions two years in a row: in 1985 and 1986, and immediately squandered all the money on gambling. She spent the rest of her life in a trailer.

Brother on brother

William (Bud) Post III won $16.2 million, and a year later he owed the banks $1 million. The man was forced to declare bankruptcy, but the troubles did not end there: his own brother hired a hitman to kill William. Poust was subsequently jailed for threatening an inspector with a gun, and by the end of his life he was living on food stamps.

Billy Bob Harrell Jr. lost all his money two years after winning $31 million in the lottery, giving it to relatives and charity. But his generosity turned against him: his wife left Billy Bob, and after a while he put a bullet in his forehead.

Fighting vampires and emotional bankruptcy

Even those who don’t go crazy and don’t go into trouble after receiving millions face difficult challenges, primarily psychological. Missouri resident Sandra Hayes won $224 million and shared the money with her work colleagues, but this did not relieve her of the hardships of sudden wealth: “I had to endure the greed of people trying to extract money from me - it caused deep emotional pain. These were people I loved deep down, but they became vampires trying to suck the life out of me."

Similar experiences are described by Long Island resident Donna Mikkin, who became a lottery winner and won $34.5 million. According to the girl, the lottery made her “emotionally bankrupt,” causing her to constantly worry about what people think of her and how they perceive her behavior even in the most ordinary situations.

In short, the Powerball winner, who risks getting into the 1% (that is, becoming one of the 1,700 American billionaires), faces not only the problem of choosing which island to buy for his future villa. Fortunately, the chances of hitting the entire jackpot are less than being struck by lightning: the probability of correctly identifying all six coveted numbers is approximately 1 in 292 million.

A record jackpot has finally been won in the US

8, 27, 34, 4, 19, 10 - three US residents will apparently remember this random set of numbers for a long time. After all, exactly. The winners will, of course, receive less in their hands - the prize is subject to taxes - but adjusted for this, the amount is still impressive and, not surprisingly, a record for the lottery industry.

The starting jackpot amount was “only” $40 million and was first drawn on November 7th. The lottery draws are held twice a week - after 19 attempts, no one has won the main prize. But, thanks to the fact that Powerball uses the so-called progressive scheme for determining the jackpot, its amount grew after each unsuccessful draw and the purchase of new tickets, eventually amounting to the coveted one and a half billion-plus.

$1.5 billion is:

Star Wars Episode 7 Box Office in 19 Days;

A tenth of the fortune of the Russian Forbes list champion Vladimir Potanin and one fifty-second of the fortune of the richest man in the world;

The entire fortune of Arkady Rotenberg according to Forbes for 2015;

Presidential Candidate Donald Trump's Entire Net Worth;

Or 1/164 of the 2016 budget.

However, only someone who turned out to be able to take possession of such a fortune could the only(!) owner combinations of six numbers - and even then if you decide to receive your winnings in parts over 29 years. If the winner wished for everything at once, he would only receive $930 million, from which federal tax (almost more than 39%) and, depending on the state, local tax will also be deducted. By the way, winnings paid in shares are also subject to taxes.

A FEW MORE NUMBERS

The lottery organizers estimated the chances of winning the coveted prize as 1 in 292 million.

Since November, 1.325 billion lottery tickets have been purchased.

From the penultimate draw to the final, 371 million tickets were sold.

The ticket costs $2, at least half of which goes towards replenishing the jackpot.

Stores that sold winning tickets will receive $25 thousand - the money will be paid by the organizers, not at the expense of the winners.

Until now, the record Powerball winnings were $590 million (before taxes) taken by a Florida resident three years ago.

Despite the offers appearing on the Internet for our fellow citizens to participate in an attractive lottery, it is not worth “falling for” this. Moreover, Powerball drawings are not available not only in Russia, but also to residents of other countries, and even six American states: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and Utah.

FROM THE MK DOSSIER

The record jackpot in lottery history was previously considered to be a prize in $656 million(excluding taxes), played in USA in 2012. Then we also won three tickets.

According to statistics from lottery organizers, more than 80% of lucky winners prefer to take their winnings immediately, despite the guarantee that the money received in shares is insured and will be paid in any case, even if the organizers, for example, go bankrupt.

Recently two residents won the biggest jackpot in the British National Lottery - 66 million pounds ($96 million). Previously, the record in Albion was 42 million pounds, divided between three winners in 1996.

also in Great Britain lives by an incredibly lucky couple - David and Caitlin Long. At intervals of less than two years ( in September 2013 and April 2015), they won a million each pounds in the EuroMillions lottery. For the second time, the organizers also gave the winners a car.

American snowboarder wins $1.5 billion lottery

California resident Eric Bragg won one and a half billion dollars along with two other participants.

Let's note $1.5 billion - the largest amount ever played in lotteries.

American snowboarder Eric Bragg won one and a half billion dollars along with two other participants. In addition to Eric's ticket purchased in Chino Hills, two more were sold in Florida and Tennessee.

In any case, he will have to pay the state almost 40% of the winnings in taxes, not including the state's own taxes.

source: Eurosport

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A resident of Voronezh hit the largest jackpot in Russian history: he won 0.5 billion rubles. in the Russian Lotto lottery. Psychologists on the Internet and on news portals are already recommending that the winner hide from friends and acquaintances for a while in order to save money. What future can await the lucky owner of 500 million, Alexander Rassokhin looked into it.

The super prize was played out every week for a year, but until last Sunday no one managed to hit the jackpot. As a result, with each new circulation the winning amount increased and reached 506 million rubles.

Who is he - the happy owner of half a billion? All that is known about him is that he is a resident of the Voronezh region, the ticket was purchased at one of the local sales points, the winner has not yet applied for the prize.

RUB 506 million - a record win, but the winner will have to pay about 65 million to the state as personal income tax, said Anton Shapiro, general director of the Gosloto trading house:

“For such a sum, we will certainly invite him to Moscow. If we do not find any violations in the ticket, we will immediately issue a statement, but if there are any doubts, by law we have the right to conduct an examination. The previous record - 365 million - was won in Sochi this summer, 100 million is won several times a year. The probability of winning a super prize in each Russian Lotto draw is 1 in 293 million.”

Will the owner of half a billion expect a new life, wealth and success? Winning such a sum is certainly a huge victory, however, as in the case of Captain Vrungel’s ship, everything can turn into disaster, says Roman Suleymanov, associate professor of the department of psychiatry and medical psychology at RUDN University. Big money is always a lot of stress, he reminds:

“Big money caricatures a person’s personality - if before he was a cheerful, kind, charitable person, then these qualities will only increase. If he was a stingy, petty person - accordingly also. Winning a large sum is, of course, a great joy, but at the same time it is also a test for the psyche. A person immediately reassesses his own value, and some time must pass for him to get used to this idea, because people often commit rash acts without thinking about the consequences.”

The life of the winner will change dramatically, says Mikhail Vinogradov, head of the center for legal and psychological assistance in extreme situations. Most likely, he will have to say goodbye to most of his acquaintances and friends, the expert suggests:

“People are very envious. Now it’s better for the winner to disappear, wait until passions subside, and say goodbye to old friends.”

In August of this year, Massachusetts hospital worker Mavis Wanchik won the largest sum in US history: the Powerball lottery jackpot was almost $760 million. Taking into account taxes, the winner took home $443 million, and then quit her job.

The lottery market in Russia has been actively developing over the past five years: the growth in ticket sales for state lotteries Stoloto annually ranges from 20% to 35%.