16. Janite Lee: Within one decade, the $18 million that Janite Lee won in 1993 was long gone; she spent almost all of it on charity. She was a major donor for the Democratic party, but she also had a slight gambling problem and lots of credit card debt.
17. Luke Pittard: Wales native Luke Pittard won $1.9 million in 2006, but he blew through nearly all of it on a trip to the Canary Islands, a wedding, and a house. Just a year-and-a-half later, he had to return to his job at McDonald’s.
18. Rhoda and Alex Toth: This couple hit the $13 million Florida jackpot in 1990 and had nothing left 15 years later. They initially spent tons of money on a three-month trip to Las Vegas, and they bought 10 acres of land in Florida. They were eventually sued by the IRS for tax evasion. Alex passed away before the trial hit the court room, and Rhoda spent two years behind bars.
19. Vivian Nicholson: In 1961, Vivian’s husband, Keith, won over three million playing Britain’s football pools. The couple took it upon themselves to live a life of luxury. They bought expensive clothing, cars, and a new home. Keith died in 1965, and Vivian had to declare bankruptcy after she was slammed with a huge tax bill. She died in 2011 after struggling for years with alcohol addiction and depression.
20. Callie Rogers: 16-year-old Callie Rogers won three million in 2003. She was far too young to know how to handle her money wisely, and she spent millions on vacations, clothing, breast implants, a home for her mother, and a raging drug habit. She reportedly spent over $300,000 on cocaine alone!
It’s hard to imagine spending so much money in such a short period of time, but when you’re surrounded by temptation, it’s much easier than you think!
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