Community Chat

[Topaz Gem]

Our local news had a report about the high percentage of past winners that sincerely wished they had never won.  Most are now completely broke and their lives are ruined.  They long for their former lives.  They either developed gambling addictions, gave too much away, or went on uncontrollable spending sprees.  I think a lot of people aren't psychologically prepared to handle winning large sums of money.  IMO, you really have to have your head on straight.

I stand by my earlier statements.  Don't tell anyone you won (except immediate family, but swear them to secrecy).  Get your financial house in order and decide on charitable contributions, family gifts, etc., ahead of time.  Pace yourself with your spending so as not to attract attention, and don't make any huge lifestyle changes for awhile.  Invest the bulk of your winnings.

Good luck to any future winners out there!  😊

[jackthebear]

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@Karie2022 wrote:

I agree....we are such private people I would hate for everyone to know who we are...I wonder if you can have anonymity or do you have to come out to the world? I thought I read that's part of winning the lottery your name is made public.  Ahhh, but all that loot...pretty amazing!!

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Depends on the state I think 

[jackthebear]

She's nuts for coming forward so quickly 

But that's not my problem

[jackthebear]

She's nuts for coming forward so quickly 

[IlliniGirl88]

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@Natasha218 wrote:

If I were the winner, I would never go public.  It would be a year before I even told anyone, even my boyfriend.  I'd tell people I won $500,000 to explain some purchases and money to my family but I'd take my time, keep working.  Let the lawyers and accountants set up the trust funds for my family and just take time deciding what my the rest of my life would look like.  

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@Natasha218  -  I totally agree about not going public.  I'd tell my husband, but honestly I wouldn't tell our children or family.  They really don't need to know.  I would set up trusts for our young children and give some to immediate family, but like you said, tell them you won a smaller amount.  Not saying all of this to be stingey, but security would be my main focus.  You read about lottery winners getting killed over their winnings, which is really scary.  I wouldn't live a crazy lavish life, but would give to charities and set up the trusts.  If you live in a state which doesn't require letting your actual name and face out to the public, I'd stay as low under the radar as possible.  I'd go slow on the spending and making major decisions. 

[Annabellethecat66]

I totally agree with @CANDLEQUEEN.  I don't know if I'd EVER come out and say it.

Have any of you ever read the follow-up on many of these big winners?  Really sad.

Anyway, I wish more people had won it.  I like hearing about people winning money, but I wish it'd been divided up more.

Where I live (in Va) there's a guy actually a few miles from where I live who's won quite a few times.  Mostly thousands at a time, but still, he is one lucky guy.  Not that lucky though.

I've had several psychics tell me I should play because they think I'd win, I just never bothered.  Maybe I should try it a few times.  Two of them have even said to choose my family's birthdays, etc.  The problem is most of them were born in the month of August!  Ha!

[Greeneyedlady21]

I doubt that she already had a financial advisor or lawyer. She's 53 and lives in a very modest apartment in a small house. So yes now the media has tracked down where she lives and is interviewing the neighbors.

She worked for a medical facility, she has already quit. Not sure if she has any kids. Especially as a female living alone if that's the case, not a good idea. Of course she could just up and move right away, at least rent a beautiful home before she buys.

She lives in a small town and might be very trusting and a bit naive. I'm not saying that as any sort of knock on her. But I live in a fairly small town too, and would never do that. I prize anonymity and privacy having what I have. Over 300 million, I'd never want anyone to know.

[nana59]

I was watching her today when she got her check.  I'm sure she is nervous, but I wish someone in her family would have told her to spit out her gum......

[sidsmom]

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@Plaid Pants2 wrote:

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@sidsmom wrote:

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@goldensrbest wrote:

 i hope she was not rich before this.

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Odd thing to say, but there's some truth.

Statistics show those playing the lottery are not 'financially strong'

to begin with, thus investing their money little as it may be,

into something with incredibly low-zero return rate.  

That's where I do a 'raised eyebrow' when the Public falsely

chastises the Rich & Famous for 'not giving enough' to charities...

but yet this same Public throws money away through the Lottery.  

How about donating this lottery money to a charity? 

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 How do you know that people don't do both?

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I don't...no one does. This is a question for all those who chastises the Kardashian/Beyonce's of the world...'they have all this money...they need to donate it.' How do we know they don't?  Same-same.  Anyone can donate morally speaking, but when you're a level of rich, it makes financial sense to donate, as well...don't believe there are tax breaks for buying lots of lotto tickets.

[sunshine45]

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@Cakers3 wrote:

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@bonnielu wrote:

Some states the winners are private and they keep it that way.  I personally would not want anyone to know.  I can only imagine the attention --- positive and negative she will get now. And I hope she has a level head because this kind of win might not be such a blessing if she does not have the situation under control. 

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@bonnielu  Are you sure?  I am not aware of any states that do not disclose the name of a winner.  There are reasons for the disclosure, including keeping the lottery transparent and to avoid potential fraud.

I think the actual lottery commission for each particular game determines the rules, not the state but I could be wrong.

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six states will let you keep it to yourself......Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina.

you CAN form a trust or some other type of legal entity in other states, BUT even with some trusts and other entities , owners of those can still be tracked down easily as a matter of public record.