Curse of the Lotto: How the Millions Can Ruin Lives

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...