Mega Millions Might Ruin Your Life — Here’s Sad Proof

The Mega Millions jackpot has now reached $400 million. While you may have dreams of winning such a large sum of money, this could be the worst thing that could happen to you.

Those who have won huge jackpots in the Mega Millions lottery have walked away from picking up their giant checks with huge smiles on their faces, but the smiles don’t last forever.

As the P. Diddy used to say: “Mo’ money, mo’ problems.”

Perhaps there is no better example of how hundreds of millions of dollars from a lottery like Mega Millions can ruin a life than the example gleaned from Jack Whitaker. Here is what Whitaker was saying within a few years of winning millions of dollars:

“I wish I’d torn that ticket up.”

Whitaker’s game of choice was Powerball — but the game is almost identical to Mega Millions. Spend a couple bucks for a chance to win hundreds of millions.

Many viewed Whitaker to be one of the lucky few to win millions of dollars in the lottery, but all of that money didn’t improve his life — it ruined it. Here’s how:

Money Stolen

Whitaker might be the richest person to ever win millions of dollars. Some estimate he was already worth $17 million when he won his $315 million in the West Virginia lottery equivalent of Mega Millions.

Apparently he simply didn’t know what to do with his newfound millions of dollars. After donating $14 million to a foundation created in his name, he also started to frequent bars and strip clubs and flaunt his money.

On August 5, 2003 — just a year after winning his hundreds of millions of dollars, he had $545,000 stolen from his truck while he was inside of one of the aforementioned clubs.

Another near quarter of a million was stolen from his car in 2005 when thieves broke in and took $200,000.

Personal Tragedies

On September 17, 2004, his granddaughter’s boyfriend was found in his home of a drug overdose. Three months later the granddaughter also died of a drug overdose. Five years later, his daughter — the girl’s mother — was also found dead.

Legal Problems

Though you might think that Mega Millions would help you get through most problems, that wasn’t true for Jack. In 2007 he claimed to be broke after he was successfully sued by a woman, but didn’t pay.

He also has been sued by Caesars Atlantic City casino for bouncing $1.5 million of checks.

So, before you buy a Mega Millions ticket, remember that winning could be the worst thing to ever happen to you.

Image via International Business Times