13 Lottery Winners Who Blew It All

We all dream of winning the lottery, because we have bills to pay, and debts to catch up on, and family members that need our help. Thousands upon thousands of people play the lottery and the powerball every week, with the hope that they just could be that lucky and win, because they think it literally could change their lives.

What happens though if indeed your prayer gets answered and you win the lottery? What if winning it changes your life completely, and makes it upside down, and your life is worse than before you actually won?

Don't think that could happen? Those were my thoughts exactly, until I read about the 14 people who won the lottery and their lives spiraled out of control, and they ended up losing all the money.

Suzanne Mullins couldn't get out of debt

Flickr/NZ Defence Force

Suzanne won the US lotto in 1993, and she did not want the lumpsum, but decided that she wanted to be paid on a yearly basis. 

Even with the lotto winning, she found herself in debt, and the yearly payouts were dedicated to her paying off her debt, the huge one being a $200,000 loan that she took out.

She could not manage to pay the loan, until the loan company sued her. Unfortunately,she had no money or assets to give them back their money. 

Michael Carroll spent his money on hookers 

Michael Carroll won a whopping 9.7 million pounds in 2002, which is the equivalent of $15 million, in South African rands with the dollar at 8.15, it would be R122 million. 

Unfortunately, his love for hookers, beautiful cars, drugs and parties, he blew all that money in a period of 5 years. Unbelievable!

Americo Lopes decided against sharing the money and then got sued

AP Images

Americo Lopez won the lottery in New Jersey, and did not want to share the money, even though he had promised. When it came out that he won, the people he promised wanted a piece of the action. He ended up having to split the money, as per the court.

Tonda Lynn Dickerson's lottery winnings were eaten up by the tax man

She too did not want to share the money she won with her ex colleagues. She ended up having to pay a whopping $1,119,347.90 to tax. Full story here

Evelyn Adams lost her lottery winnings because of gambling

Flickr / seandreilinger

 Evelyn Adams is one of those lucky ones, who won the lottery twice, in 1985 and 1986. But her $5.4 million didn't last, as she gambled every single dollar of it. From millions to staying in a trailer park, it really is crazy!

Willie Hurt had one hell of a crack addiction

Flickr / Marco Gomes

He won $3.1 million in 1989, unfortunately he got divorced with his wife, he lost his children, the law was on his trail because of an attempted murder charge, and as if that was not enough, he got heavily on crack cocaine. The drugs depleted all his money!

Denise Rossi didn't disclose the jackpot in her divorce filing

Flickr / girl_onthe_les

Denise got $1.3 million richer and decided that she did not want to be married anymore.  She divorced her husband without telling him that she won the lottery, but 2 years later when he found out, he sued her for not telling him about the winnings, and he won the case, which pretty much gave him all the winnings. Ouch!

Billy Bob Harrell Jr. had it all but he just could not say no

Flickr / Thomas Hawk 

He won a cool $31 million, and life was good with expensive cars, houses and even a ranch. He was a nice guy, too nice in fact that  he was trying to help anyone who asked for money. Things got bad when he got divorced and he ended up killing himself.

Luke Pittard went back to his job at McDonald's

Daniel Goodman / Business Insider

 Luke won $1.9 million in 2006, at least he spent some of his money on a house. The rest was for a trip to the Canary Islands, and of course he had to pay for the wedding to his sweetheart. Apparently he went back to his old job at Mcdonald's.

William Post went through some unfortunate events

Flickr / Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the BPL

 He won $16.2 million in 1988. He had to give some to an ex-girlfriend of his. His own brother tried to get him killed, with the hope that he could win something. His relatives would not leave him alone. a year later, he was owing $1 million and was bankrupt. 

Gerald Muswagon partied his fortune away

Flickr / David Domingo

Gerald blew his winnings on partying and drinking, over 7 years.Sad really. he ended up killing himself in his parents home.

Vivian Nicholson spent all her money on shopping

Flickr / katclay

 

She won 152,300 pounds in 1961, which she used on buying clothes. Today, she is jobless and moneyless. 

Callie Rogers was too young and had a loser for a boyfriend

Callie won £1.9 million at just 16, at 2003. Too young to know anything about money management, and it did not help that the boyfriend was a loser. On top of that, add 2 kids to a mix of drinking, too much parties, vacations and others. Today, she does cleaning for a living.