Powerball winner rues opening mouth

News Leader ^ | 12/25/03 | Gavin McCormick (A.P.)

[Holly_P]

St. Albans, W.Va.

[Lokibob]

When I win the Power Ball (note: I said "WHEN" not "IF") , I intend to first take care of kids and grandkids colleges, charity, then blow the rest on me.

From what I have read, sharing, even with family only causes resentment. If you buy someone a house, they think you could have done better or bigger.

Nobody won the powerball last night and now it is up to $170 million ($92 million for cash value).

[Spok]

I would hire a lawyer to claim the money and not disclose my identity, and donate anonymously.

[Holly_P]

I would dump all my old friends and buy new ones.

[Polybius]

When I win the Power Ball (note: I said "WHEN" not "IF") , I intend to first take care of kids and grandkids colleges.....

My wife just admitted to me that you were the real father of our children.

Please add them to your college trust fund.

Thank you.

[toddst]

I would hire a lawyer to claim the money and not disclose my identity, and donate anonymously.

Bingo! Any other approach causes problems, like "Jack" Whittaker now admits. Publicity is the last thing a winner of such money needs.

Working through the church of your choice, tremendous good can come from wise use of such resources. I'll let you know how everything works out - after I win!

[BenLurkin]

They forgot to print his address. I need send my appeal.

Sheez, he can spare me measly $100 Grand!

[SeeRushToldU_So]

When I win the lotto, I will have nothing in common with anyone I know.

[RightOnline]

The naked greed of these leeches looking to suck off of this man's good fortune just doesn't cease to amaze me.

I'm ashamed to think of them as 'Americans'. Freakin' pitiful.

[Dont Mention the War]

They always say the first thing you should do if you win the lottery, before even turning in the ticket, is get a new unlisted phone number, find somewhere to stay away from your home for a while (weeks if at all possible), and hire an assistant to start screening your incoming mail, because thousands upon thousands of people will start hitting you up for money within hours of your name getting out. A lot of financial planners even recommend freezing out your extended family temporarily, because they'll be the first ones knocking at your door.

And for the love of God, don't be stupid enough to announce on national television that you intend to give any of it away, even if you truly intend to do so.

[lonestar]

I knew people who won a $7 million lottery. She said the most fun they had was writing names of people they knew on envelopes and stuffing them with money.

They lived in a nice, modest home with a garden and stayed in it. She bought a new Cadillac but that was all. As she said, "We were comfortable and had everything we needed before."

He died 2 or 3 years later.

[AppyPappy]

Is this the guy who got ripped off at the strip joint? No wonder he's getting letters. He's a mark.

[csvset]

Is this the guy who got ripped off at the strip joint?

Yes, the one aand the same. I saw a lengthier version of this story that included the strip joint episode.

[sausageseller]

His being found out at the strip clubs didn't help. Especially with the other members of his church! But he was just there spreading it around, to the down and out.

This is the same guy whose donation to the Salvation Army was refused.

[StriperSniper]

and not disclose my identity

Read the fine print first, most obligate winners to promotional responsibilities, even if it's just an initial press conference.(Have the lawyer check out a name change ;-)

[Dont Mention the War]

I would hire a lawyer to claim the money and not disclose my identity, and donate anonymously.

I don't think you can do that, without being willing to give up a substantial chunk of the money to the greedy lawyer. The claim form that you fill out to submit with your winning ticket grants the lottery the right to use your name and photograph "for any reasonable purpose it deems desirable." That's why you always see those photos of embarrassed-looking people hanging over the cash register at your local 7-Eleven under the words "I won $762 here with a Pick 4 ticket!", because you have to submit a claim form for any prize over $500 or so, and they often refuse to cut you the check unless you pose for the photo.

So the only way you could claim a lotto jackpot without disclosing your name would be to literally sign over the ticket to the lawyer, making him the legal "winner" and the guy that would end up with all the months or years of harassment from deadbeats that you're trying to avoid. And he's sure not going to be willing to put himself in that position for a mere few thousand dollars. Expect something along the lines of a demand for a 50-50 split of the jackpot. For that kind of cash, it's not worth it. I'd just give the lottery their few hours of TV time and then move out of the state and never return.

[daler]

I'm not absolutely sure of it, but I do believe you MUST appear at a public press conference to accept your check.

Part of the Lottery PR effort.

So, if your smiling face is there for the world to see, forget the anonymity.

[Capt. Tom]

"I wouldn't have any money left if I did."

That didn't stop our Government. -Tom

[fella]

"The naked greed of these leeches looking to suck off of this man's good fortune just doesn't cease to amaze me.

I'm ashamed to think of them as 'Americans'. Freakin' pitiful."

Cann't help but wonder what the percentage of democrats is in this crowd.

[CommandoFrank]

"Uncle Jack, I've finally found you..."