# Does anyone actually know a lottery winner? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 6, 2000, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409 "2000-03-06T17:04:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/1 "2000-03-06T17:04:00Z")
I’m just wondering if anyone here personally knows a big winner? The criteria: You know the big winner by face and by name, and vice versa. You’ve corresponded with each other since the the event. You knew each other prior to the windfall. Let’s use $100,000 as the criterion for big winner. Anyone? Buehler? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/2 "2000-03-06T17:12:00Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/3 "2000-03-06T17:14:00Z")
A co-worker I knew very well won $40,000. Didn’t quite make your cut-off, but this was back in 1983 when the pay-outs were much smaller. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/4 "2000-03-06T17:35:00Z")
Almost yes. They won $11 million (this was when that was a REAL payout), but they were friends of friends – so I had only met them a few times at parties and gatherings. Still I know them by name and face. By the way, after they won they bought his and hers Mercedes, moved to a big house in a rich neighborhood and quickly lost touch with all their old friends. That’s what you really wanted to know, wasn’t it? * * * I understand all the words, they just don’t make sense together like that. ---
**Author:** ![Nickrz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nickrz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nickrz)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/5 "2000-03-06T17:43:00Z")
I’m not sure what the point of this question is. Maybe MPSIMS can flesh it out for me… ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/6 "2000-03-06T17:47:00Z")
I won US $10.00 with scratchers that I bought for US $1.00 at 7-11. I promptly spent the money on two water pistols. Net gain: zero. ---
**Author:** ![WIGGUM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WIGGUM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIGGUM)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/7 "2000-03-06T17:49:00Z")
My friend’s parents won 18 million in the Maryland State Lottery. Surprisingly, the money really dindn’t change them. His dad still kept his job as a high school principal. They all drove really nice cars afterwards, though. ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/8 "2000-03-06T17:53:00Z")
Acquainted with someone who won tens of millions. Split it equally with his kids. * * * * * * **SDMB’s oldest living female!** Acclaimed author of: _No Bad Brontosauri 365 Ways to Cook Sabertooth Tiger The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Wheel_ ---
**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2000, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/9 "2000-03-07T06:02:00Z")
Someone I worked with at my last job - her husband was in the group that won the powerball last year - $80 mil, and i believe there were about 30 people in the pool. She didn’t come into work the next day, or ever again. ---
**Author:** ![H8\_2\_W8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c77e96/32.png) [@H8\_2\_W8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/H8_2_W8)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2000, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/10 "2000-03-07T06:08:00Z")
No, I don’t know anyone. If I somehow won some big PowerBall money, I hope it WOULD change me. I’m already and arrogant, self-centered, impatient A-hole, so maybe I could be a better person since the money always seems to change people. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Thing\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_1)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2000, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/11 "2000-03-07T06:08:00Z")
I worked with 2 people who split a $1,000,000 jackpot. I left that job shortly after they won and I do not cporrespond with them, but they satisfy your other criteria. John * * * Then he got up on top With a tip of his hat. “I call this game FUN-IN- A-BOX” Said the cat. -The Cat in the Hat ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2000, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/12 "2000-03-07T06:10:00Z")
The mother of one of my friends from law school (I was in her wedding)“spun the wheel” in the early days of the California lottery and won $1.000,000. The people across the street from my in-laws in Kentucky won something in the 'teens of millions a few years ago. They still live in their middle income neighborhood – it’s where they’ve been for decades (they are old enough to be my parents) and where their friends are. I think they travel a lot now, though. -Melin * * * Who is NOT Straight Dope Staff Siamese attack puppet – California ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2000, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/13 "2000-03-07T06:12:00Z")
Any of these people want to adopt me? I’m really cute and house trained… * * * We are, each of us angels with only one wing,and we can only fly by embracing one another ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2000, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/14 "2000-03-07T06:12:00Z")
> [@](#): > > $1.000,000. Just how much is this in American dollars? ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2000, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/15 "2000-03-07T06:32:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by kunilou: > By the way, after they won they bought his and hers Mercedes, moved to a big house in a rich neighborhood and quickly lost touch with all their old friends. That’s what you really wanted to know, wasn’t it? Actually, I was just curious if anyone was close, personal friends with a big winner. I’ve always said that, if I won, there would be a whole lot of happy people since I’d be giving away alot of the money. (I can hear you thinking, “Yeah, right.”) I would, too! ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2000, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/16 "2000-03-07T06:42:00Z")
I would give away alot too. As well, I always said that if I won big, I would buy the hospital my dad was in all new pillows, cuz they sucked. * * * We are, each of us angels with only one wing,and we can only fly by embracing one another ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/17 "2000-03-06T19:49:00Z")
My grat Aunt and Uncle won a 3 million dollar lotto. My Sister-in-law was married to a guy who split a 10 million dollar lottery with about 20 or so co-workers. Last but not least my brother-in-law won 150,000 playing the big game. Why oh why can’t some of that luck rub off on me??? ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/18 "2000-03-06T20:53:00Z")
A good friend of my dad’s won a million bucks. The payout was $50K a year, less taxes. He was making enough already that it was only a nice supplement, not a life-changing amount. (Don’t you wish?) He was a one of those gruff on the outside, sweet on the inside kinda guys before he won the money, and the same guy afterwards. He was just elected mayor of the small town he lives in. (It was a landslide – he got 400 votes, his opponent only got 300!) I’ve already told my boss that if I win the lottery there’s nothing in my desk that I can’t buy another one of. The only concession I might make to my place of employment is to hire Johnny Paycheck to come in and sing “Take This Job and Shove It”. Sigh. Back to reality. * * * “Cheddar?” “We don’t get much call for that around here, Sir.” ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/19 "2000-03-06T23:09:00Z")
I’ve won $500 on a scratch off ticket and blew half of it on a week in Vegas ( travel agent rates) and the rest on stereo speakers for my husband. Interesting tidbit brought to you by my hair styliest: he does the hair of an attorney that specializes in people who’ve won /inherited great gobs of money. The lawyer said that most lottery winners go broke within the first year or so because of wild spending sprees. So, if you ever win the lottery, you need to have a plan to make sure you keep your winnings. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409/20 "2000-03-06T23:14:00Z")
My dad won $100,000 in a Pick 5. Had to split it with a friend, though. By the time the taxes were taken out, he was up about $30 grand. He gave each of us kids a small check. 😉 Unfortunately, he probably just broken even for what he’s put in… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-know-a-lottery-winner/14409.md?page=2)