Unfortunately, when you win the lotto, your name will forever be on the internet.

The fame, the money, the constant luck you will feel you have every time you feel the cool breeze walking into a casino. You just won the largest payout jackpot. You are just too cool.

Many people still ask themselves, “I wonder what happened to those powerball winners?“, and you come to find out that some of them are living well in their casual yacht, some of them thought their backyard was too small so they bought a portion of the Caribbean Sea, and others, well, weren’t so lucky.  Whether it was too much partying or spending, these humans had it all! Let’s not forget their short-lived life as millionaires.

Don’t worry, there is nothing to be jealous about.

Callie Rogers

16-year old Rogers was the youngest in the UK to hit the lotto in 2003.

Won/Lost: 1.9 million pounds

Blowups: plastic surgeries, drugs, and partying like it was 1999

Now: studying nursing

Net worth: 2,000 pounds

 

Willie Hurt

Probably the saddest of the bunch.

Won/Lost: 3.1 million dollars, 1989

Blowups: went broke 2 years later due to drugs addiction, divorce settlement, and possibly murdering a person

Net worth: who knows

 

Lara and Robert Griffith

A non-compatible couple surely had to win the lotto to make their marriage right. Wrong.

Won/Lost: 1.8 million pounds, 2005

Blowups: fancy house (later burned down), high-end fashion accessories, a Porsche

Net worth: unknown as Robert left Lara and is living with his parents; online sources state parents currently give him an allowance of 7 pounds

 

Lou Eisenberg

Won the largest payout at the time (1981).

Won/Lost: 5 million dollars

Blowups: several marriages, divorce settlements, gambling at the track

Net worth: $250/week, currently living on pension and SSI

 

 

Ibi Roncaioli

Poisoned by her husband.

Won/Lost: 5 million dollars, 1991

Blowups: sent 2 million dollars to daughter that was not her husband’s; he later found out and poisoned her. Of course, he was respectful enough before he got arrested and asked her family if they could pay for her funeral. What a gentleman.

Net worth: Well, she died.

 

Denise Rossi

Won the lottery, hid it from her 25-years-of-marriage husband, divorced her husband to keep all of the money. Brilliant plan.

Won/Lost: 1.3 million dollars, 1996

Blowups: judge ruled she had broken asset disclosure laws so she had to give her husband every single penny she won

Net worth: whatever her last job was paying her

 

 

Vivian Nicholson

When she won the lotto, she vowed to “Spend! Spend! Spend!”

Won/Lost: 4.5 million dollars, 1961

Blowups: new car every 6 months, designer dresses, “finer things in life”

Net worth: she was seeking employment in 2007 in her 70’s and could not find anybody who wanted to hire her. She lives on a weekly pension amounting to $131

 

Sharon Tirabassi

Now has to take the bus to her part-time job in order to support her family.

Won/Lost: 10.5 million, 2004

Blowups: trips and gifts for family and friends, new cars, new house

Net worth: unknown

 

Billie Bob Harrell Jr.

No longer was stocking shelves at Home Depot.

Won/Lost: 31 million dollars, 1997

Blowups: bought a ranch and a few homes, made many loans to people

Networth: took his own life 2 years later

 

Suzanne Mullins (not pictured)

After winning, she borrowed from a company that lends to lottery winners when “money got tight.”

Won/Lost: 4.2 million dollars, 1993

Blowups: spent the money instead of paying back the lender company

Networth: -$154,000 (what she still owed in 2004 to the company)

 

Interesting and sad stories, but all in all, save your gambling money in your pocket and increase your emergency fund instead!

xoxo,

Brissa