When lottery winnings go wrong! 3 true stories
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16 Apr 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes Winning the lottery, often seen as a dream, can turn into a curse. Jack Whittaker, after winning 314 million dollars, saw his life marked by theft, family tragedy and depression. Evelyn Adams, twice a millionaire in the space of a few months, loses her fortune to gambling addiction and failed investments. Finally, Antônio Lopes de Siqueira, who won €32 million, died tragically after a dental operation, before he could enjoy his wealth.
Winning the lottery is often seen as the ultimate dream: a life without financial worries, travel and sumptuous homes. Yet for some, this sudden wealth has turned into a curse. Jack Whittaker, Evelyn Adams and Antônio Lopes de Siqueira are three poignant examples of how unexpected wealth can have devastating consequences.
Jack Whittaker: From wealth to tragedy
In December 2002, Jack Whittaker, a successful entrepreneur from West Virginia, won the largest jackpot ever won by a single ticket in the United States: $314.9 million in the Powerball. Already a millionaire before this win, Whittaker chose to receive $113 million in one lump sum after tax.
A generous man, he made substantial donations to Christian charities and set up the Jack Whittaker Foundation to help disadvantaged families. He also gave a house and a car to the manager of the shop where he bought his winning ticket.
However, his fortune soon led to trouble. In August 2003, $545,000 was stolen from his car parked outside a strip club. Asked why he was carrying so much cash, he replied, ‘Because I can.’ Later, two employees of the club are arrested for trying to drug and rob him.
The personal tragedies kept piling up. In 2004, his granddaughter’s boyfriend was found dead of an overdose in his house. His granddaughter herself died shortly afterwards in similar circumstances. Whittaker sank into depression and alcoholism. He died in 2020 at the age of 72, leaving behind him a story marked by pain and loss.
Evelyn Adams: Twice a millionaire, twice ruined
Evelyn Adams, an employee in a New Jersey mini-market, won the lottery twice in four months: 3.9 million dollars in October 1985, then 1.4 million in February 1986. She became the first person to win millionaire jackpots twice in the state.
Initially, she used her winnings to pay off her debts, buy a car and set up a college fund for her daughter. However, she developed a gambling addiction and lost much of her fortune in the casinos of Atlantic City. She also invested in businesses that failed.
Adams gave generously to family and friends, but many never repaid the loans she gave them.
She says: ‘I couldn’t go anywhere without being recognised’, emphasising the loss of her privacy.
In 2012, she was living in a caravan, having lost all her earnings.
Antônio Lopes de Siqueira: A fleeting fortune and a tragic end
On 9 November 2024, Antônio Lopes de Siqueira, a 73-year-old cattle farmer from Cuiabá in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, won the Mega-Sena lottery jackpot. With a prize of 201 million reals, or around 32 million euros, he became one of the biggest winners in the country’s history.
Aware of his fragile health, suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, Antônio decided to invest part of his new fortune in his well-being. One of his first initiatives was dental treatment to improve his smile. He began treatment.
On 4 December 2024, while undergoing dental surgery, Antônio suffered a heart attack and died on the operating table. The local authorities launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of his death, although initial evidence suggested that the dental operation was not to blame. Antônio Lopes de Siqueira did not have time to enjoy his sudden wealth.
Sudden wealth, an insidious trap
These three stories show that sudden wealth can be as destructive as it is beneficial. Without preparation or guidance, unexpected wealth can have tragic consequences. They underline the importance of financial management, psychological support and caution in the face of solicitations. Winning the lottery may seem like a dream, but without the tools to manage this new reality, it can quickly become a nightmare.