March: The Month of Luck
What past lottery winners spent their millions on
What would you do if you won the lottery? Hitting the jackpot can open a world of possibilities for lottery winners, who may finally be able to buy a new house, find a new job they are passionate about, or create an organization focused on a cause they care for. However, winning big can take a turn for the worst. In fact, many lottery winners end up blowing it all. Here are some of the best splurges in lottery history.
John Kutey - Green Island, New York
After cashing in a $319M Mega Millions jackpot for a share of $28.7M in 2011, Kutey and his wife Linda decided to donate a portion of their winnings to build a water park in honor of their parents. They donated $200,000 to construct Spray Park in Green Island, New York, The Albany Times Union reports.
Bob Erb - Calgary, Canada
Bob became $25M richer in 2012 after buying a lottery ticket on the way to his father's funeral in Calgary, The Huffington Post reports. He'd been buying tickets for 43 years. The seasonal construction worker planned to continue working and donate his wages to the food bank. He also directed $1M of his winnings toward 420 Day, an annual event supporting marijuana legalization.
Evelyn Adams - New Jersey
Against all odds, Evelyn won the lottery in back-to-back years — 1985 and 1986 — for a grand total of $5.4M, AskMen.com reports. Feeling lucky, she took her winnings to the tables and slot machines in Atlantic City. By 2016, she was penniless and residing in a trailer park after gambling it all away.
Denise & Paul Hardware - Wales, UK
The life of this Wales-based couple took quite the turn in 2007 when they won £5M, the Mirror reported. After taking a celebratory cruise, they paid off their mortgage, bought their dream home in Somerset, and then invested in three more properties. The winnings also allowed them to fund their son's degree from Oxford Brookes University.