The 10 lottery winners who blew it all

Nearly one-third of multi-million pound lottery winners become bankrupt in just a few short years of their big win, according to research conducted in America.

Here is Money Central's list of the top ten who let it all slip through their fingers…

10. Vivian Nicholson – won £152,300, lost five husbands

Vivian Nicholson famously claimed she would “spend, spend, spend” after winning £152,300 (worth about £3 million in today’s money) when playing the Castleford football pools in 1961. Since then she has been widowed, married five times, suffered from a stroke and been treated for alcoholism, deported from Malta, became a Jehovah’s Witnesses, tried to commit suicide and spent time in a mental institution. She spent her winnings on Harrods dresses, luxury cars and holidays and was the subject of the West End production of her life, aptly called “Spend, Spend, Spend”, with Barbara Dickenson playing her role. She is now living on £87 a week pension.

9. Willie Hurt – won $3,100,000, lost everything

Willie Hurt won $3.1 million in Michigan in 1989 but two years later, he had wasted it on divorce and cocaine and was charged with murder. Before his win, he was a happily married family man with an active social life, yet soon lost contact with his wife and custody of his children due to the problems his windfall brought him.

8. Evelyn Adams – won $5,400,000, lost all but her caravan

Evelyn Adams won the New Jersey lottery twice (in 1985 and 1986). The odds of this happening are 17 trillion to one, yet this “American dream” was not all “it’s cracked up to be”. Her “mistakes” included gambling away the $5.4 million fortune. She now lives in a trailer.

7. Shefik Tallmadge – won $6,700,00, lost his Ferrari

Shefik Tallmadge, of Arizona, used his last $5 to buy a lottery ticket, despite not expecting a pay-check for another fortnight. He won a cool $6.7 million. After 18 years of touring Asia and Africa, buying expensive cars and real estate, giving in to pleas for money and investing in businesses, which subsequently failed, he filed for bankruptcy in 2006.

6. Michael Carroll – won £9,700,000, lost everything but his reputation

Former bin man, Michael Carroll, won £9.7 million aged just 19 years old in 2002. The self-named “King of Chavs” immediately bought four homes in the UK, a holiday villa in Spain, two BMWs, two Mercedes, and a stake in Glasgow Rangers Football Club. After committing petty crimes including breaching his ASBO and cocaine-possession, he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment in 2006 after he threatened teenagers with a baseball bat at a Christian Fellowship music event in Downham Market. He is now reported to be penniless once more.

5. Rhoda Toth – won $13,000,000, lost her disability claim

Rhoda Toth won $13 million in the Florida lottery in 1990. Her and her husband quickly spent the winnings and in 2006 were charged with tax evasion. They were living in poverty with electricity provided by a cord rigged to a car engine when arrested. While awaiting trial, her husband died forcing Rhoda to try avoiding jail-time by pretending to have multiple sclerosis. However, agents secretly taped her in order to prove that she did not need the crutches she had used in the courtroom. She was sentenced to two years imprisonment and ordered to pay $1.1 million to the IRS.

4. William Post – won $16,200,000, lost his family

William "Bud" Post III won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania lottery in 1988. Unfortunately, his loved ones turned on him, when a former girlfriend sued him for a share of the winnings, his brother was arrested for hiring a hit man to kill him and his other siblings bullied him into investing in a car business and restaurant, which then failed miserably. Post even spent time in jail for firing a gun over the head of a bill collector and within a year, he was $1 million in debt. He eventually declared bankruptcy and lived quietly on $450 a month and food stamps, claiming "I'm tired…Lotteries don't mean [anything] to me". He died on Jan 15 2006 of respiratory failure aged 66.

3. Janite Lee – won $18,000,000, lost her money but bought a seat in heaven

Janite Lee from Missouri won $18 million in 1993 but generously gave to charity and in 2001 filed for bankruptcy with only $700 left in two bank accounts. She also had a reading room at Washington University named after her and dined with world leaders including then President, Bill Clinton. Originally from South Korea, this single-mum of three worked in a wig-shop before her big win, giving it up to give generously to the Church and those in need.

2. Billie Bob Harrell – won $31,000,000, lost his life

Billie Bob Harrell won $31 million in 1997 though soon had an estranged wife and letters from pleading strangers to deal with. He gave freely to the church, charities, family and even a new, younger girlfriend. Yet the pressure was too much and Harrell’s body was discovered two years later with an autopsy confirming suicide. However, Harrell’s parents refuse to accept this and their grandchildren were left trying to figure out how to pay the estate taxes owed due to their father’s death and where the rest of the winnings have mysteriously gone...

1. Jake Whittacker – won $315,000,000, lost his car insurance

In 2002, Jake Whittacker won a $315 million power jackpot and started out with good intentions by donating money to several church-based charities and setting up a foundation that provided food and clothing to the West Virginian poor. However, his luck soon changed: he was arrested for drink driving, spent more than $100,000 in a strip-club, had $545,000 in cash stolen from his car and then another $200,000 stolen again. He became the subject of many lawsuits (most of which were settled out of court) which include being sued for gambling debts by Atlantic City casino. His granddaughter died of a drug overdose, funded by the $2,100 a week allowance he gave her.

By Rosanagh Fuller

More from Money Central:

The 10 worst property investments ever

The 10 richest reality TV stars

The 10 most expensive celebrity photo deals, ever

The 5 most successful Apprentice candidates, ever

The 10 weirdest MP expense claims

Ten tips to cut the cost of car insurance

50 great things you can get for free

50 tips to beat a recession

Ten tips to negoiate a 10 per cent pay rise

Ten tips to cut the cost of your holiday

Comments

[David]

Wow that's depressing. I thought being heavily in debt despite working 60+ hours a week (thank you student finance...) was bad enough. Definitely not going to buy any lottery tickets now though!

[Louis]

Most people haven't a clue about managing money! So i am not surprised these Lottery winners ended on skid row!!

[Emma Goode]

This is so true I know a guy who won a lot of money on the lottery and about 3 years later he commited suicide. It's certainly not the dream everyone expects it to be.

[rashmi]

Ah, but let us also hear about those who successfully made their lives better!!!!!

[Alex]

"Her and her husband..."? (Rhoda Toth, winner #5). Is this the writing we expect from The Times or is this really the Essex Bugle?

[DARIUS]

I wouldn't mind taking the risk of winning a large sum of money...

[peter]

I'll chance it thanks!

[Gerry]

It's a shame Mr Carroll didn't invest some of his money on obtainting a brain cell implant, the one he has must be very lonely.

[Holy Bible]

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:23-25

[Chris Cherry]

Awesome. Couldn't even buy an hour's worth of an accountant's time.

[not a pedant, but . . . .]

This is one of the most ill-written articles I've seen in a publication of the Times' standing. 'Her and her husband'? You've got to be kidding.

[A. Wright-Burke]

'Her and her husband' ill written? Pah - I'll give you ill-written:

'While awaiting trial, her husband died forcing Rhoda to try avoiding jail-time by pretending to have multiple sclerosis.'

So, puzzlers: Was it her or the husband awaiting trial? And did the husband die while forcing Rhoda to have multiple sclerosis? We can only guess at the true meaning of these words.....

[johnathan]

just goes to prove a fool and his money are easily parted.

i assume none of the above were mensa members, i suspect most of them didnt have a qualification between them!

[Richard]

Oh well, such is life !!

[Mr. Cautious With Money]

The lottery: a tax on the stupid and hopelessly optimistic!

[Charlotte Lewis]

Mr Cautious With Money,

I play the lottery and am not stupid.

Do you spend much time sneering at others online?

[Father Ignatius Brown]

Now let's see:
New East window for Parish church £30,000.
New railings for churchyard £20,000.
New Church hall - £70,000.
New trees and play equipment for village common - £30,000
New zebra crossing outside school - £15,000 (apparently).
New school for growing village - £300,000...

Boy it is so easy to spend money on good causes - there is no excuse for blowing it...

[Bob Hope]

I'm still getting a Lotto ticket for Saturday! What the heck, I'm also getting a Euro Millions ticket for tomorrow!!

[peter]

Charlotte Lewis: "I play the lottery and am not stupid."

Give me a pound and there's a million to one chance that I'll give you a million pounds.

Sounds stupid to me.

[john]

It doesn't matter how much you have, you are either spend within your means or you don't.

Give a prone spender any amount of money and it'll be frizzled away, be that £1 or £1 billion

[james armitage]

I think a lot of lottery winners are on skid row when they start! The people I see buying lottery tickets (10 at a time), Scratch cards (10 at a time) and cigarettes (100 at a time) in my local shop don't look as though they have got the price of a decent pair of shoes or some sensible food!

[Harry Blankley]

If I won the lottery the first thing I'd do is sit down with a financial adviser, maybe get a second opinion, and do some net present value calculations on my own as well to determine how much should be invested, and how much can be "pocket money" to be spent. I also agree with "Holy Bible" above but then we are really ALL RICH MEN in western societies not just lottery winners - the point is if you're self-satisfied and proud and self-sufficient you'll have no interest in God and others.

[PROPERDAD]

I HOPE I DONT WIN IT

[Dragon]

I would love a decent win. Just enough for a bungalow of my own. I have lived in a tied cottage for over 42 years, paying rent, no right to buy, and nothing to leave to my children. A place belonging to me would be heaven. I think the Euromillions £50 million would go a long way to making my life, and the lives of my daughters, grandchildren and great grandchild a lot less fraught. I wouldn't give to Charity. They've never helped me in all my years on low wages, and a subsequently low Pension.

[Martin]

Michael Carroll did not buy a stake in Rangers. He used the Rangers Financial Services agency to place some of his money, as he might have used any other financial advisor.

[Bella]

"..suffered from a stroke and been treated for alcoholism, deported from Malta, became a Jehovah’s Witnesses, tried to commit suicide.."

Not to be picky but don't you think it's a little wrong to lump a change of religions in with alcoholism, deportation and suicide? I find it hard to believe you would have found it noteworthy if she converted to Catholicism... Just a thought.

[Winning Lottery is Scary too!!]

Wow... Winning lottery does gives people bad luck. Scary!

[bruce]

Silly people queing up to throw their money away in the belief that a big win will solve all their problems!
It will just bring new ones! They wont own the money it will own them!

[John T]

"Nearly one-third of multi-million pound lottery winners become bankrupt in just a few short years of their big win..."

Which means over two-thirds don't!

I understand the point of the article, and it's an interesting, (if not tragic) one, but let's not pretend all poor people are stupid. A lot of winners set themselves, and their families, up for life.

And for all those snooty people who say money doesn't solve everything, true, but it does solve a hell of a lot!

[Rick]

How about Labour governments who Blew it all. ??
Billions into the pockets of the super rich.

[Jeff]

"two years later, he had wasted it on divorce and cocaine and was charged with murder. Before his win, he was a happily married family man"

Let me guess... wife sensed an easy money making opportunity for nothing in the form of divorce, and took it?

This is why you find self made rich people to be shrewd and money concious - they didn't manage to accumulate, and more importantly KEEP, their fortune by giving in to threats or spending liberally. It's a mindset, and if you are suddenly thrust into riches from nothingness, the money will quickly destabilise you. It's similar to why some people plucked from obscurity and suddenly given fame lose it.

[Sensible Sam]

I used to live in Spain, where they have numerous different lotteries. There they call it 'A Tax on Fools'. How very true.

[Peter]

I think you will find that Viv Nicholson did not win the 'Castleford' football pools.She was from Castleford in Yorkshire and won the Littlewoods football pools.
She was portrayed in a play by Barbara Dickson and not Barbara Dickenson as you state.

[John Wray]

Viv Nicholson should be claiming Pension Credit if her pension is only £87 a week. It will top her up to over £120 unless she has a few grand tucked away, which looks unlikely.

[Tom]

Nr 5

It's "She and her husband".

Don't forget the UK Times has an illustrious reputation to maintain.

[shakespeare]

people dont be gettin mad about the whole her and her husband thing because good writing is not about following rules george orwell was a great writer and he said that and anyway james joyce who was also a badass writer didnt follow rules its all about breakin down barriers man living the vibe and s***

[Barry]

Classic examples of winning unexpectedly. Winning the lottery can be a burden. For some, a real terrifying nightmare.
As the saying goes plans can and will always go wrong.
Its been said that giving money to people can do a lot more harm than good. even though the intention is good.
Give money to one person and expect to make enemies overnight.
My advice for those who win the lottery is to find somewhere else to live. Move for god sake, people can turn on you like rabid dog.
Use common sense, and also don't give in to demands of strangers.

[Anil Chatterjee]

If I won the biggie, the capital would be invested straight away in a varied portfolio, with only part of the interest being spent. That way I wouldn't go bust.

And I wouldn't tell a soul about the win!

Pedants, please note: I know I shouldn't start a sentence with a conjunction - okay?

[Paul]

I wish I had to worry about what to do with a £10 million lottery win!

[Gus]

"Stupid is as stupid does." Money doesn't make one smart. "Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation. Stupidity is not a sin, the victim can't help being stupid. But stupidity is the only universal capital crime;..."

[Bonnie Ember]

That's why I never buy a Lotta Ticket.
I make HD films from around the world, instead.

You can Travel 1st Class with me.

See, Tahiti, The Islands of Love on:
youtube.com/alphaember

Regards

[Editors, We Don't Need No Editors!!!]

Well, I Can Surely Say That I Do Not Know What Is Worse. Is It The Content (Storyline) Of The Article, Or The Fact That My Six Year Old Was So Distracted By All The Editorial Oversight, That She Forget (Briefly) What This Story Was About?

[Ian]

If you win the lottery keep your mouth shut, you will only see the worst aspects of human nature. Instead pretend you have a new well paid job well away from your home such as a property manager for a firm specialising in luxury developments (owned by your off shore trust and paying you a great salary). This way can spend your few days away form home living it up with whores, booze, drugs, pubs and clubs before going back to your dreary other half, tedious friends and horrible kids.

[cb]

I play the lottery and am a Chartered Accountant (I claim that means I'm not stupid). Playing the lottery can be a fun pastime and you never know...

[Parth Aggarwal]

10% in charity to attain good karma.
80% in mutual fund/safe investment/FD.
10% for living. Decent car, food, clothes, accommodation etc. Meanwhile get a management degree from Harvard to figure out what to do with all that money.

By all means keep my normal job, friends and life. Off course, all of the above are subject to what kind of feelings I'm going through after I win that lottery, I might just try for Guinness world records for highest amount of money ever burnt.

[Barry Harte]

If I won that money I would spend it on stem cell treatment for some really ill people suffering from MSA

[JK]

People should have to take a test before they are allowed to buy a lottery ticket to make sure they are smart and resonsible enough to handle a large sum of money if they win. It could even be included in the national curriculum or id cards. Sounds very 'new' Labour.

[Michael]

"don't you think it's a little wrong to lump a change of religions in with alcoholism, deportation and suicide?"

Old religions are to be revered new ones are to be abused or sneered at.All insane. I think the lumping is wrong too. Booze and deportation exist.

[Rosi Caswell]

Karma can neither be bought or simulated; it has to be genuinely lived.

Rosi Caswell

[anukexpat]

RE: Rhonda Toth:

"Her and her husband" -- doesn't anyone from the Time proofread this stuff? "She and her husband", please!

[Mike]

So here's what you do when you win: count to ten (million), live off the interest for a year, then when the notion of being rich is no longer so novel, make your plans. What's given away goes to health, education and justice, in that order.

[Don - Virginia, USA]

Jeesh - The London newspapers must be suffering from the same budget crisis that is so badly affecting the US news media. The West Virginia lottery winner is named Jack Whittaker, not Jake Whittacker - they got both the first name AND the last names wrong!

[Norman Unwin]

In 1992, pre lottery days, my mother won two million quid on the football pools. At the time, it was the largest gambling winnings in Britain. She received the full media treatment for one day, then went back to the main Post Office in Stoke on Trent where she worked and carried on as if nothing had happened. The money was carefully invested, my parents have only just retired, both of them well into their seventies and the subject of money was never discussed. As has been stated, if you were an idiot before you won the money, you will still be an idiot afterwards.

[kate]

My mother always said lottery tickets were for wishing on not winning. A friend who is very devout believes that they are test from God to see what you would do with the money. Most of these people appear to have failed.
I can't afford to waste money on tickets.

[BOB]

Work out the odds on Euromillions. You will find you have better odds being a premiership fottballer/footballers wife than winning anything significant (over £150). Make you think.

[jj]

I will buy ( hostile takeover )my workplace and will tell my boss " you have been fired" . the rest cars , property , girls girls girls.

[Tony Telltale]

I always but two Euromillions lottery tickets. If I should win a get hundreds of reporters at the door I will show them the none winning ticket down and say "no mate, must be some mistake".
Hee, hee there goes another pig past my TV aerial.

[Chris]

Could someone give me a lot of money then come back in one year and i will tell you if i can handle it or not Chris Pinkham Hamilton New Zealand

[Gerard Butler]

Too right, I'd also spend the lot and have a fantastic time doing so.

[Anthony]

The problem is that people think if you win £10m you can lead a millionaires lifestyle. You could for a few years sure but it will inevitably run out. People who make the money themselves have the money coming in continually, not just a one off 'bonus', so can continue to eat out at the best restaurants etc. In this day and age £10m wouldn't even buy you a half decent boat anyway, let alone the fuel to run it.

If i won the lottery some people would be in for a shock. Most of the family wouldn't see jack since they can't be bothered to send a christmas card, whereas some others would be generously helped out. Same with friends...i can tell the difference between true and fairweather friends. Any who don't like it can lump it.

Stangers! Ha ha. Pleading letters to me would be a waste of a stamp. What makes them think i will help them.

Charity. I'd give some to those who deserve it i.e. those that help rather than spend mostly on executive wages. The RNLI will see some as they should be funded by the Government anyway, along with the local air ambulance. Other than that i'll set up my own to help who i want to help.

As long as i don't have to worry about money i'm happy. I'm not one for £1200 bottle of wine et al. Invest wisely and live of the interest. I could live very comfortably off £2000 a week interest with the occasional one off big capital purchase such as a house (say a £500k detached in the suburbs)Holiday homes can be rented to offer some variety.

My only vice would be a DB9 convertible which i have to have. Even so i'd get one second hand to avoid the massive initial depreciation. And maybe flying business class to avoid DVT on my initial round the world hiking trip to see the wonders of the world (no expensive hotels).

If you realise you can't live like Bill Gates on a lottery win you will be fine

[Peter Woodford]

Quite bizarre but the temptation of over indulgence is powerful, I hope we all learn to become a little more responsible with our ever more fragile planet.

[Stephen Fleming]

How about a story on the people who have amassed vast riches in the run-up to the last financial mega-bust. We hear about their off-shore life style but nobody is naming names.

Also, I couldn't help notice the clumsy language that "A. Wright Burke" (ha ha) pointed out. What?, did you lay off your editorial staff?

[russell reunen]

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IF I WN THAT MUCH MONEY IE 6/7/8? MILLION POUNDS, I WOULD NOT WASTE IT I WOULD PAY OFF MY CLOSE FAMILYS MORGAGES, AND THEN INVEST IN GOLD , AND OTHER PRECIOUS METALS THE REST I WOULD DIVERSIFY INTO PROPERTY/INVESTMENT, THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF 30 % OF THE TOTAL, THE REST SAY 30% WOULD GO TO MY CHILDREN IN TRUST UNTILL THEY WERE 30 , AND THE REST WOULD GO INTO A WELL TRUSTED BANK, APART FROM 2 MILLION WHICH WOULD BE SPENT ON TRAVELLING AROUND THE WORLD, OF COURSE THAT WOULNT COST THAT MUCH, I WOULD DO WITH THE ACCESS IS KEEP IT IN A HIGH INTEREST ACCOUNT WITH A TRUSTED BANK OF MY CHOOSING APART FROM A MILLION WHICH I WOULD PUT INTO A OTHER ACCOUNT AND LIVE OFF THE INTEREST

[Chris]

Why do people feel the need to type in caps? If you win the lottery my friend, please learn to which the caps lock off for goodness sake.

If I won I wouldn't tell a soul, as it seems thats where most of the trouble starts.

[Attila]

Excellent human face put onto what usually is only presented as statistics. I guess it often is "easy come easy go".

Thanks for the article. ;)