Are You Wondering What It Feels Like to be Rich? | Do Your Math! If you are lucky enough to win a lottery jackpot, chances are that you may be wondering what life would be like as an extremely wealthy individual. While most lottery jackpot winners enjoy their newfound riches and are contented, some do experience issues related to financial or lifestyle-related wealth issues that they struggle with as a result of winning big.
Some lottery winners have started businesses or made other significant progress with their money, while others have fallen into addiction or had other difficulties as a result of winning the lottery. Some even died as a result, making their stories particularly poignant in showing you just how a lottery win can drastically alter one’s life forever.
David Lee Edwards
After winning $41 million in the Powerball jackpot, cable installer Dave Edwards went on a wild spending spree – purchasing a mansion, private jet and luxury motors all within three months of becoming rich.
He spent much of his money on drugs; both he and Shawna became addicted to crack cocaine, prescription pills and heroin. Both were arrested for drug abuse; furthermore they contracted Hepatitis from sharing dirty needles.
Edwards spent lavishly, purchasing cars and antiques as well as initiating an armour collection.
At one point, he lived in a shed covered with human waste. Additionally, he owed Bank of America and Florida for property taxes totaling $270,000 each.
Evelyn Adams
Evelyn Adams was an employee at a convenience store and gradually increased her weekly lottery spending from $25 to $100 over several years, becoming a clerk before winning two multi-million jackpot prizes – one worth $3.9 million in October 1985 and another for $1.4 million four months later – making her one of only a handful of people ever to do so in New Jersey Lottery history.
She won money, but her winning streaks quickly turned into an unhealthy gambling addiction. She gave away much of it to friends and family before wagering it all away at Atlantic City casinos and through a series of failed business deals.
After winning twice, she decided to stop playing the lottery as her winnings brought too much attention and moved into a trailer park instead.
Jane Stafford
On the evening of March 11 1982, Jane Stafford was taking Billy Stafford and one other person to a party. It had long been part of their arrangement for Jane to bring Billy back home after each party she attended.
But on one particular occasion, Jane and her two sons were stopped by a policeman who informed them that Billy had been shot. It was a violent scene; detectives weren’t sure who shot Billy or who shot at him first.
As soon as the police arrived they discovered a mutilated body and suspected suicide until they examined her blood samples and noticed she had a bullet in her chest.
This murder trial revolutionized how law viewed battered women who killed their partners, opening up space for other battered women to speak out and break free of abusive relationships. Jane was ultimately cleared of her husband’s killing and became an advocate for other battered women.
John and Linda Kutey
John and Linda Kutey knew the best way to use their winnings was to give back to their community of Green Island, New York. So they reached out to local officials there to determine how best they could contribute their wealth.
The Kuteys successfully obtained enough funds to create Spray Park in their hometown. Now open to visitors, this amenity offers hours of family fun!
They wanted to pay tribute to both of their parents, so they decided to donate $200,000 toward building a spray park to replace an earlier wading pool, according to The Albany Times Union.
Kutey family had made an savvy move. By using trusts to accumulate capital without incurring taxes and leaving their parents a lasting legacy for future generations, they were able to achieve both ends.
