The Powerball

Ok someone just hit the powerball for 105.8 Mill. Watching the winners go in front of the cameras had me wondering. Has there been a case of someone hitting the powerball ( or really any other big jackpot ) and they refuse to "meet the press"? I have heard over the years that those lucky winners in order to receive their jackpot, they can NOT turn down the press' request for an interview. If so, is that really fair?

My mother back in 1984 won 1.6 million from the Maryland Lottery. Like other winners, she too made the rounds on TV. Several years later she told me she wished she hadn't done that since for months afterward it seems everyone in town was contacting her asking for money. I was in high school at the time she won the money, hell even I had some of my own teachers ask me if I could ask my mom to give them money. I am not even going to begin with family members.

Never forget the time the local dj on one of our local radio stations made a joke about my mom after seeing her on TV saying that she should use her winnings to have her teeth fixed and "get a face lift" because she was and this was a quote "..that woman is so damn ugly that I can just puke !!". Then they had the nerve to call our house a few days later to schedule an interview with her.

My mom died in 1997 and not long before her death she told me she regretted winning that jackpot. That too makes me wonder. If the other winners felt the same way too.

I am not sure how I would feel but I sure would like to find out. One of my friends brother won 10 mil in Illinois several years ago. He disappeared.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

You also become a public figure long after like that winner in West Virginia whose life's travails are chronicled in the news with regularity or anytime lottery winner discussions come up (like now).

I suspect the winners that come forward a few weeks late were busy getting their affairs in order maybe in order to "disappear". The sad thing is it changes your life and circumstances sometimes not for the better because it upsets everything you have in terms of community, family and relationships in possibly too short of a time to adequately handle it.

If I ever win, I'll disappear. In case of an emergency not money related, you can contact me through Bushie.

Actually-the last folks that won big bucks here in Oklahoma---103 million---never did publicalyy identify themselves---the started a holding company to manage it all for them and kept their identities very low key. claiming the money in a company name.

One of the news TV channels (I think it was MSNBC) recently aired a special on past lottery winners whose lives ended up taking a downturn after they won large lottery pools.

Hey PP, Bushie wants a percentage to tell me where you are. Send me a Million or two to cover his commission, will you please?

The most we have ever won in a lottery was a couple of "4 number hits" on the California "Pick 6". In that lottery having 3 numbers gets you $5, have 4 numbers gets a piece of a prize pool...usually ranging from $75 to $125. I think we got $105 one time and $86 the other.

We don't play Powerball very often, maybe 8 or 10 times a year. We have never won anything in that lottery.

On the same general subject. We live barely two miles from the Caesar's Riverboat Hotel and Casino. We have been inside the place three times in the seven years since we moved to Indiana. Two of those three times was just for dinner and once was to take one of the visiting family members there at their request. I don't consider myself a "good" gambler.

Several years ago there was a mega millions lotto winning ticket sold in Cincinnati & claimed in ohio, by a private trust.

No names, no interviews, No one knows who really won.

That is the way to do it!

No greedy relatives, no so called friends, no crazy schemes to invest in, just all that $$$$$$$$$ to enjoy!

I remember several years ago when a young woman ( maybe 25 or 30 ) won this huge jackpot I believe playing Mega Millions. Like most of the other winners, she had her press conference, dressed in a very tight blouse and blue jeans. Of course the press asked her what will she do with all the money. She made the claim that she will party, party and do even more partying. Well at least she was honest.

However quite soon after that press conference all of those radio talk show hosts ( Dr. Laura, Dave Ramsey, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Medved, Savage, Dr. Joy Browne and countless of other local talk show hosts ) started going on the air and giving their opinions on this woman and her plans on what she will do with her winnings. Some of those hosts were calling her "loose", "stupid", "crazy". I think even one of those talk shows went as far as calling her a "whore".

After a period of time of hearing these remarks the woman again went to the press only this time she was pretty much in tears saying that those hurtful comments were upsetting and how she wished many of those talk show hosts would mind their own business.

Yes, I would be very hurt if some radio talk show host would call me a "slut" to their audience but OTOH, by making the decision of facing the press you are going to go from being a private person to being in the public spotlight. Like I am sure most if not all of the celebrities and those in politics can tell you, the press does not have to like you and if they want to slam you on the air, well they can and there is little to nothing one can do about it.

The old saying "if you can't stand the heat...get out of the kitchen", really does apply here.

Hello All,
The lottery is my 401K. I want to win, but... money doesn't like me.
If I would win, I already have a plan on giving, saving, and surviving.
As far as publicity, I'd dance through the minimum amount required and
then blend into my current lifestyle.
Despite all the horror stories, I'd love to win.
Money can't make you happy,...but being poor doesn't either. Know thyself.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

quote:

Originally posted by CajunKing

Several years ago there was a mega millions lotto winning ticket sold in Cincinnati & claimed in ohio, by a private trust.

No names, no interviews, No one knows who really won.

That is the way to do it!

No greedy relatives, no so called friends, no crazy schemes to invest in, just all that $$$$$$$$$ to enjoy!

I'm not sure if this is the same person you are talking about, CK, but a winning ticket was sold at the Kroger in Corryville, and the Kroger was part of some interviews {and a lawyer, I believe}, but the winner claimed it through a private trust, and the identity was never revealed. I do seem to remember hearing it was a woman, though.