Lottery Stories: 10 Weird Things People Have Done After Hitting it Big

The biggest lottery jackpot in history was $1.586 billion dollars! When it comes to probability, you’re more likely to get struck by lightning than win that much money.

But playing the lottery is fun.

Some winners have done some strange things after winning big. But, let’s face it, people do lots of weird things!

Read on for 10 weird lottery stories.

Throwing It All Away

After reading about these lottery winners, don’t forget to check your lottery numbers at this website.

If you think money solves your problems, take a look at John Ross, Jr.

A few months after winning $2 million dollars in the lottery in California, Mr. Ross was arrested. He was 29 when he won.

At the time he won, he said he’d never owned his own car and intended to buy one. But, he was later arrested for assisting a friend with hiding a stolen car!

Good thing he had the lottery money, it covered his $25,000 bail!

Luck Isn’t Always Good

Jack Whittaker lived in West Virginia. He won $315 million dollars in the Powerball lottery in 2002. Mr. Whittaker was worth $17 million before he won the lottery. After he won, he pledged 10% of his lottery winnings to Christian organizations.

He was a generous man who purchased a home and a new car for the woman who sold him his ticket. He also gave her a $44,000-dollar check.

Mr. Whittaker’s luck wasn’t always good, especially after he won the lottery. He frequented strip clubs where thieves broke into his car stealing over a half million in cash.

Who leaves a half-million in cash in the car?

His bad luck continues. In 2016, his home in Virginia burned to the ground. Mr. Whittaker stated it wasn’t insured.

Is that Erb or Herb?

It’s nice when people give back, and Mr. Erb is a charitable man. He won $25 million dollars in 2012. With the money, he helped with dental care and transportation for the poor.

It’s reported that Mr. Erb has a long-time marijuana habit, smoking 15 joints per day. He’s spent about a million dollars funding marijuana legalization efforts.

Luxury Life at 16

Botox anyone?

At only 16, Callie Rogers won $2 million in the UK lottery. She was Britain’s youngest lottery winner. Ms. Rogers was too young to understand the value of money.

She spent her winnings on breast implants, cosmetic procedures, and clothes. She also bought drugs and went on luxury vacations.

Callie is now 31 and wishes she’d been older at the time she won the money. She was taken advantage of by new “friends.” She says she struggles to this day with trusting people.

She squandered her money but says she’s happier now. She now advocates for a higher age limit on playing the lottery.

Party Lifestyle

Gerald Muswagon’s story is tragic. He won $10 million dollars in the Super 7 jackpot in Canada in 1998. He loved to party.

He threw huge parties and events. His parties were legendary in Winnipeg. He bought new cars. He gifted friends with big-screen televisions.

He started a logging company, but it failed.

He spent several months in jail for leading police on a long high-speed chase. He also spent time in jail for sexual assault. Other crimes included drunk driving and breaking and entering.

In the end, Mr. Muswagon hung himself in his parent’s garage.

Gambling It All Away

Evelyn Adams is a familiar name in the world of lottery winners. She’s won the lottery not once, but twice within two years! Between the two wins, she had almost $6 million dollars.

She was generous and gave money to anyone who asked her for some.

But the lottery wasn’t the only form of gambling she liked. Her winning streak gave her confidence in her luck. She took her winnings to Atlantic City and continued gambling.

The house always wins. Ms. Adams gambled away her entire fortune. She now lives in a trailer.

Demolition Derby Guy

In 2002, Michael Carroll, 19 at the time, won nearly $16 million dollars playing the lottery! Mr. Carroll stated he only wanted a small home by a lake. But instead, he bought a mansion.

He spent almost $3,000 per day on crack cocaine alone. He spent money on drugs, alcohol, and prostitutes.

His wife wasn’t too keen on his purchases, and she divorced him.

He bought luxury cars, but he didn’t drive them. He crashed the cars in his own private backyard demolition derby.

Mr. Carroll has done jail time for public disorder and fighting.

He’s now broke.

Fraudster

Amanda Clayton won a million dollars playing Lotto in Michigan in 2011. This was great luck for the former welfare mother of two. Not content with her one million, she continued to receive food stamps from the state.

It was rumored she had a drug habit which could explain the poor choices. She was later found dead in 2012 from a drug overdose.

Female Wrestlers

Lots of folks have dreams of creating a television show. Jonathan Vargas made his dream come true after winning $35 million dollars in Powerball in 2008. Seems Mr. Vargas was a big fan of wrestling, female wrestling in particular.

He created a sketch comedy show based on barely-dressed female wrestlers. He spent about a half-million dollars on the failed show.

Careful Who You Trust

Jose Antonio Cua-Toc found out the hard way who not to trust. The lucky Guatemalan was in the US illegally. He was afraid to cash in his winning ticket due to his undocumented status.

He asked his employer to cash in the ticket for him.

Bad idea. His boss took the ticket and claimed the money for himself. But, Mr. Cua-Toc is nothing if not lucky. He sued his boss for the money. And, he won. It only took a jury a half-hour to decide the ticket belonged to Mr. Cua-Toc.

The deciding factor? A video surveillance camera showing Mr. Cua-Toc buying the ticket. That’s one lucky guy!

Weird Lottery Stories

No one ever said winning the jackpot would make you smart! These past lottery winners prove it. Money doesn’t buy happiness or intelligence. There are so many weird lottery stories!

If you like interesting stories, take a look at more weird news here!

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