They WON the Lottery!

Newest millionaire keeps verbal agreement to share winnings with family

We often hear of stories about how sudden wealth tears a family apart. Sometimes seemingly loving people can become jealous and greedy when large sums of money enter the picture.

This story is quite different.

Barrie Edwards bought a couple of Pennsylvania Lottery tickets, and due to a promotion that was going on at the time, he got a free Powerball ticket as a bonus. That extra “freebie” ticket won him the $86.3 million jackpot.

A long time ago, the Edwards and the Funk families agreed that if any of them ever won a big jackpot, they would split the winnings among themselves.

Lottery Winners

Football player scores big with the lottery

Mike Eynon is an offensive lineman for the Ohio University Bobcats (in Athens, Ohio). His first score this season took place at a local convenience store recently.

Eynon bought a lottery ticket, and ended up matching 5 numbers – winning him a nice $250,000. Of course, after taxes, his actual check will be for about $172,000.

He is a senior at the university, and said he plans to put the money toward his schooling. He is only an occasional lottery player.

Lottery Losers

From Lottery multimillionaire to federal prisoner

Rhoda Toth’s life has been like a roller coaster.

First, she won $13 million in the Florida Lottery. Then she behaved seemingly without benefit of the thought process; she and her husband filed false tax returns for several years to avoid paying federal income tax on the winnings (Toth’s husband, Alex, has since passed away).

When charged with the crime, Toth was determined to have no assets. The only electricity she had was from an extension cord hooked to their car engine (how does that even work?).

Lottery Winners

Would you bet $50,000 for a chance to win $1 million? Yes, you would.

Judith Yap is hoping her luck holds out for a second win.

Last month Yap, a nurse, won $150,000 in the lottery where she lives (Illinois). In Illinois, you can turn in $30 of losing tickets to get your name in a drawing for the “Replay for Riches” promotion. Her name was drawn for the $150,000 prize.

But she now has a chance to multiply that prize. She and 6 others have the opportunity to risk one-third of their winnings (in her case, $50,000) for a 1-in-6 chance at $1 million.

Lottery Winners

Unemployed man still unemployed, but no longer looking for job

Kevin Lee Carrier used to spend time looking for work. Not any more.

Carrier is 53 years old, not married, and has been unemployed for a while. Having no income did not prevent him from playing the Encore Lottery, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He ended up matching all 7 numbers and immediately became Ontario’s next millionaire.

“I was scared when I saw that I had all those numbers”, said Carrier excitedly.

His plans? Pay off some debts, get a brand new car, and buy a bigger apartment.