Yesterday's Mega Millions jackpot winner, Metropolitan Transit Authority worker Aubrey Boyce, accepted his $133 million check under the assumed name of Archibald Trust. The fake name stunt was a smart move—too bad Boyce couldn't resist the charm of the press, successfully face planting himself on the cover of every New York tabloid. Hopefully Aubrey has pest control on speed dial because, like so many other lotto winners before him, he can expect a lot of aunts (uncles, cousins, ex-wives, and jump-offs) to crawl out of the woodwork looking for hand-outs.
The truth is, winning the lottery isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sure, you get smothered in enough money to wipe your ass with hundred-dollar bills for the rest of your life, but the problem is most people are unprepared for becoming a multi-millionaire overnight. Some lotto winners blow their winnings on strippers and drugs, others have the cash swindled and stolen. Take a look at infamous examples of when the buck that struck the lotto would've been better spent on a bottle...
ANDREW JACKSON WHITAKER, 2002
AMOUNT WON: $314.9 million
AFTERMATH: The largest jackpot winner in history, Jackson watched his life turn to shambles after his enormous winning. Whittaker was robbed several times, including once for $500,000 after leaving a swanky strip club. Things got even worse as Whittaker became a heavy drinker and eventually divorced his wife.
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WILLIAM "BUD" POST, 1988
AMOUNT WON: $16.2 million
AFTERMATH: Things went to shit real quick for Bud. Within two years of winning the lottery, Post would be sued by his girlfriend for a share of the money, have his brother arrested for hiring a hit man to kill him in hopes of getting the loot, and would even do a stretch in jail. Post now lives alone on food stamps. Talk about a family feud.
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JEFFREY DAMPIER, 2005
AMOUNT WON: $20 million
AFTERMATH: It's common knowledge that nobody likes their in-laws. But Jeffrey Dampier's sister-in-law took it to a whole new level when she kidnapped and murdered Dampier in hopes of claiming his winnings.
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WILLIE HURT, 1989
AMOUNT WON: $3.1 million
AFTERMATH: True to his name, Willie spent his winnings getting hurt. Two years after hitting the lotto, Willie somehow found himself charged with murder after blowing millions on crack and a divorce.
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EVELYN ADAMS, 1986
AMOUNT WON: $5.4 million
AFTERMATH: An obsessive gambler, Evelyn claims she blew all her lottery winnings on slot machines in Atlantic City. It would be one thing if she lost it all in a respectable game like Texas Hold 'Em, or even roulette, but slots? C'mon! Today Adams is broke...and lives in a van down by the river.
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CHARLES RIDDLE, 1975
AMOUNT WON: $1 million
AFTERMATH: After winning his million, Riddle was divorced and later indicted for selling cocaine. Unlike the other people on this list, at least Charles made some type of business investment with his money.
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KENNETH PARKER, 2003
AMOUNT WON: $25 million
AFTERMATH: Not long after winning the lottery, Kenneth and his wife Connie filed for divorce after 16 years of marriage. This might be the first time in history that money turned a woman off.
