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.
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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 ...
Also known as "Lost Wages"
I don't believe I specified lottery winners in particular....
LOL
Okay, that's just damn funny.
I've been wondering how padded poor Robbie had to be for that, and how hot he got.
The party hardy lifestyle will make young folks look old in a short time.
That hard driving lifestyle is very hard on older people. Look at Joan Rivers and a host of others. See Anna Nicole for the "before" picture of a lush.
OTOH, it is flattering for an old man to have sweet young things jump all over him, even if they both know why she does it.
True. But is that human nature, or the human nature of those who constantly buy lotto tickets?
No.
But it can rent it.
see 42.....it's the former.
The NYS Lottery gives(gave?) a primer on how to start dealing with being lottery winner.
The one tip I remember is if you have trouble saying "no" to all the parasites foisting guilt, and the legitimate requests, btw, you set up a foundation and refer all requests to the foundation.
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I remember reading about what you should immediately do if you win the lotto:
1)Get a good attorney who'se also a CPA
2)Get a P.O. box
3)Get an unlisted phone number
4)Get out of town for 3 to 4 weeks.
LOL! Sound like my husband. He tells people he's starting on his 2nd million.... b/c his first million didn't work out.
If I had 1/10 his money, I'd never drive again; come to think of it, I don't drive now unless there's no one around to take me where I want to go.
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