Posted on 12/13/2004 11:20:55 AM PST by LouAvul
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The world's first glimpse of Jack Whittaker, winner of the richest undivided lottery jackpot in U.S. history, was of a boisterous, happy-go-lucky guy in a big cowboy hat who loved his family, work and God and promised to share his good fortune with the church and the poor.
Two years later, the picture the public is seeing now is a mug shot of a haggard, somber Whittaker.
Whittaker, 57, has been arrested twice for drunken driving in the past year and has been ordered to go into rehab by Jan. 2 for a 28-day stay. He also faces charges he attacked a bar manager, and is accused in two lawsuits of making trouble at a nightclub and a racetrack.
"That's probably the unfortunate situation of maybe having too much money, too much time on his hands," said Steve Zubrzycki, who works for a company that started selling "Where's Jack?" T-shirts after authorities issued an arrest warrant for Whittaker earlier this month.
.......
Lottery winners commonly regret being so public about their windfalls, said Susan Bradley, founder of the Sudden Money Institute in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
"You're really in an international spotlight," Bradley said. "The expectations of you are just - it never ends. It's exaggerated by anyone who feels they are entitled or have an opportunity to grab a piece of it."
As for Whittaker, "I think it's pretty sad, really," said Jerry Medley of Hurricane. "It just goes to show money can't always buy happiness." He added: "I don't have no bad feelings about the guy. I just hope he gets his life straight. I think he could do some good with the money."
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
A Fool and His Money.
Sudden Money Institute
good god they have a institute for everything now
His granddaughter went missing last weekend. The cops fear foul play.
I hope she is found safe..
"Top lottery winner emerges as haggard"
Huh...easy money had the same effect on Merle.
Most cannot handle wealth.
"Las Vegas, what's gambled here stays here"
Shouldda hired himself a driver and bodyguard.
Sitting on this barstool talking like a damn fool
Got the twelve o’clock news blues
And I’ve given up hope on the afternoon soaps
And a bottle of cold brew
Is it any wonder I’m not crazy? Is it any wonder I’m sane at all
Well I’m so tired of losing- I got nothing to do and all day to do it
I go out cruisin’ but I’ve no place to go and all night to get there
Is it any wonder I’m not a criminal?
Is it any wonder I’m not in jail?
Is it any wonder I’ve got
Too much time on my hands, it’s ticking away with my sanity
I’ve got too much time on my hands, it’s hard to believe such a calamity
I’ve got too much time on my hands and it’s ticking away from me
Too much time on my hands, too much time on my hands
Too much time on my hands
Well, I’m a jet fuel genius - I can solve the world’s problems
Without even trying
I have dozens of friends and the fun never ends
That is, as long as I’m buying
Is it any wonder I’m not the president
(he’s not the president)
Is it any wonder I’m null and void?
Is it any wonder I’ve got
Too much time on my hands, it’s ticking away at my sanity
I’ve got too much time on my hands, it’s hard to believe such a calamity
I’ve got too much time on my hands and it’s ticking away from me
Too much time on my hands,
Too much time on my hands
Too much time on my hands
Which is what the Institute hopes to get a piece of.
And those of us who can, are doers not gabbers! ;)
His granddaughter is missing and they concentrate on the drunk driving as being his biggest problem? Geesh.
Also, it may be possible people are picking fights with him just so they can sue him for his money. Everyone is always looking for something for nothing.
Not that he isn't a fool himself.
I see a suit coming from the parents of the kid who broke into his house and ended up dead.
They have been on tv off and on here for two weeks.
Really? Yup, you're right. They are setting up to take the rest of his money. He should have moved to the Virgin Islands when he first got all of his money. The donate anonymously, etc.
But wouldn't you still like your own chance to take the risk of becoming a hagger, somber millionaire?
About SMI
The Sudden Money Institute® is a collaborative learning community - recognized as a reliable resource for wisdom, evolutionary thinking, and new solutions for clients experiencing a sudden change in their financial position. We challenge ourselves to be in the forefront of understanding the client experience and continue to seek new resources for advisors wishing to elevate their client relationships. Our vitality and relevance comes from our willingness to break new ground while understanding the need for the practical application.
SMI is a resource center for families and individuals, financial advisors and the media. We provide: Education and offer referrals to the public Training for seasoned financial planners Story ideas and information sources to the media
SMI was founded on the belief that a sudden change in financial position, either a great increase or decrease is a major life event requiring a very specific form of financial planning. The success rate of life transition families historically is not impressive - neither traditional financial planning nor life planning provided the solution. We saw that there was a serious need for a new financial planning model focused on the overlapping emotional and financial issues of a life transition.
SMI pioneered Life Transition Planning™ and began to train seasoned financial planners in 1999. This new planning model, specifically designed for the life transition client, covers a wide range of life events: sale of a business, inheritance, divorce, insurance settlements, retirement, sudden career change, death of spouse, as well as sudden loss events.
The SMI Advisor Network meets regularly to expand our thinking and expertise. We invite psychologists, philanthropic advisors, and technical experts to join our dialogues and remain as resource professionals to our financial planners. Our approach is best described as developmental rather than turnkey.
I look somber and haggard because I'm not
a millionaire, so I got nothing to lose if
I win.
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