The first thing 14 lottery winners have bought after finding out they were rich

Alison Millington,Business Insider,Azmi HarounAug 3, 2022, 02:33 IST

One man, not pictured, directed $1 million of his winnings toward 420 Day, an annual event supporting marijuana legalization.Thomson Reuters

An Illinois resident claimed a winning Mega Millions ticket worth $1.28 billion on Friday.
Winning a giant sum of money can open up a world of possibilities, for a new house to a giant charity donation.
For some past lottery winners, it has also meant building a water park, starting a professional women's wrestling organization, or even gambling it all away.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

An Illinois resident–whose identity has not been revealed–is likely pondering the question right now, after having claimed a winning Mega Millions ticket worth $1.28 billion on Friday.

Hitting the jackpot can open a world of possibilities for lottery winners, who may finally be able to buy a new house, find a new job they are passionate about, or create an organization focused on a cause they care for.

However, landing the jackpot can also take a turn for the worst. In fact, many lottery winners end up blowing it all.

Here are the first things 14 different lottery winners splashed their cash on.

Kathleen Elkins and Matthew Michaels contributed to previous versions of this story.

John Kutey built a water park.

Spray Park is not pictured.AP Photo/Steve Helber

After cashing in a $319 million Mega Millions jackpot for a share of $28.7 million in 2011, Kutey and his wife Linda decided to donate a portion of the winnings to building a water park in honor of their parents.

They donated $200,000 to construct Spray Park in Green Island, New York, The Albany Times Union reports.

Louise White created a trust and named it after her lucky dessert.

Not Stop N Shop.Getty

In 2012, 81-year-old Louise White of Newport, Rhode Island, bought rainbow sherbet at Stop N Shop just before purchasing a lottery ticket that would end up being worth $336.4 million, ABC News reports.

In honor of the lucky dessert, she created "The Rainbow Sherbert Trust," a trust that would benefit her family.

In honor of the lucky dessert, she created The Rainbow Sherbert Trust, a trust that would benefit her family.

Bob Erb advocated marijuana legalization.

Not Bob Erb.Thomson Reuters

Canadian pot activist Bob Erb became $25 million richer in 2012 after buying a lottery ticket on the way to his father's funeral in Calgary, The Huffington Post reports.

He'd been buying tickets for 43 years.

The seasonal construction worker planned to continue working and donate his wages to the food bank. He also directed $1 million of his winnings toward 420 Day, an annual event supporting marijuana legalization.

Canadian pot activist Bob Erb became $25 million richer in 2012 after buying a lottery ticket on the way to his father's funeral in Calgary, The Huffington Post reports.

He'd been buying tickets for 43 years.

Nigel Willetts traveled the world.

REUTERS/Tim Wimborne

With 13,000,000-to-one odds, pub landlord Nigel Willetts won £1 million in 2014 after accidentally grabbing a £20 bill while buying lottery tickets, he told the Mirror.

He used the accidental winnings to travel the world, starting by treating 13 family members to a vacation in Florida over the holidays.

With 13,000,000-to-one odds, pub landlord Nigel Willetts won £1 million in 2014 after accidentally grabbing a £20 bill while buying lottery tickets, he told the Mirror.

He used the accidental winnings to travel the world, starting by treating 13 family members to a vacation in Florida over the holidays.

Jonathan Vargas created a TV show with female wrestlers.

Allison Meade/Youtube

Vargas was just 19 when he won a $35.3 million Powerball in 2008. With his new found funds, he created Wrestlicious, a women's wrestling promotion. "Wrestlicious TakeDown" lasted one season on TV, showing audience members scantily-clad women performing sketch comedy.

CBS News reported that Vargas was looking to create a reality TV show based on the original program, though he did have some regret about how he spent his winnings.

Vargas was just 19 when he won a $35.3 million Powerball in 2008. With his new found funds, he created Wrestlicious, a women's wrestling promotion. Wrestlicious TakeDown lasted one season on TV, showing audience members scantily-clad women performing sketch comedy.

CBS News reported that Vargas was looking to create a reality TV show based on the original program, though he did have some regret about how he spent his winnings.

Lara and Roger Griffiths bought their dream home.

The Griffiths' home is not pictured.Theo Wargo / Getty Images

In 2006, the Griffiths used their £1.8 million Lotto winnings to buy their dream home, with a price tag of £670,000, the Daily Mail reports.

They also bought a Porsche and two more properties to rent out, invested in the stock market, and Robert spent £25,000 making a record with his college band.

Unfortunately, six years later, every penny of their fortune was gone.

In 2006, the Griffiths used their £1.8 million Lotto winnings to buy their dream home, with a price tag of £670,000, the Daily Mail reports.

They also bought a Porsche and two more properties to rent out, invested in the stock market, and Robert spent £25,000 making a record with his college band.

Unfortunately, six years later, every penny of their fortune was gone.

Sarah Cockings bought breast enlargement surgeries for her sister.

Spencer Platt/Getty

Cockings was a social work student when she won a £3,045,705 ($4.2 million) prize in 2005. "I've got a really close knit family and my win wasn't just for me but also for my family," she said.

Cockings treated her loved ones by paying for her parents' new house, vacations, and cars, according to the Daily Record. She didn't leave her siblings out of the equation, paying for her sister's breast augmentation.

Cockings was a social work student when she won a £3,045,705 ($4.2 million) prize in 2005. I've got a really close knit family and my win wasn't just for me but also for my family, she said.

Evelyn Adams took her winnings to Atlantic City.

REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus

Against all odds, New Jersey native Evelyn Adams won the lottery in back-to-back years — 1985 and 1986 — for a grand total of $5.4 million, AskMen.com reports.

Feeling lucky, and rightfully so, she took her extra cash to the tables and slot machines in Atlantic City.

She pushed her luck. As of 2016, she was penniless and residing in a trailer park after gambling it all away.

Against all odds, New Jersey native Evelyn Adams won the lottery in back-to-back years — 1985 and 1986 — for a grand total of $5.4 million, AskMen.com reports.

Feeling lucky, and rightfully so, she took her extra cash to the tables and slot machines in Atlantic City.

She pushed her luck. As of 2016, she was penniless and residing in a trailer park after gambling it all away.

Merle and Patricia Butler invested in advice from financial planners.

Getty

After winning a share of the $656 Mega Millions jackpot in 2012, Illinois-based couple Merle and Patricia Butler were unsure of what to do with their new fortune, but they vowed to be smart about it.

Forbes later reported that they planned to spend the lump sum on advice from their financial planners and attorneys.

After winning a share of the $656 Mega Millions jackpot in 2012, Illinois-based couple Merle and Patricia Butler were unsure of what to do with their new fortune, but they vowed to be smart about it.

Forbes later reported that they planned to spend the lump sum on advice from their financial planners and attorneys.

Denise and Paul Hardware invested in property.

Getty

The life of this Wales-based couple took quite the turn in 2007 when they won £5 million, ther Mirror reported.

After taking a celebratory cruise, they paid off their mortgage, bought their dream home in Somerset, and then invested in three more properties.

The winnings also allowed them to fund their son's degree from Oxford Brookes University.

The life of this Wales-based couple took quite the turn in 2007 when they won £5 million, ther Mirror reported.

After taking a celebratory cruise, they paid off their mortgage, bought their dream home in Somerset, and then invested in three more properties.

The winnings also allowed them to fund their son's degree from Oxford Brookes University.

Vivian Nicholson treated herself to a perpetual shopping spree.

Shutterstock

The Daily Mail reported that Vivian Nicholson won a fortune in Britain's football pools in 1961: £152,300, or the equivalent of £3 million today.

She immediately ordered dresses from Harrods, bought several luxury cars, and traveled all over the US and Europe.

As of 2016, her closet was filled with haute couture, but her wallet was empty.

The Daily Mail reported that Vivian Nicholson won a fortune in Britain's football pools in 1961: £152,300, or the equivalent of £3 million today.

She immediately ordered dresses from Harrods, bought several luxury cars, and traveled all over the US and Europe.

As of 2016, her closet was filled with haute couture, but her wallet was empty.

George and Beryl Keates gifted it to their family — and the couple still buys lotto tickets.

AP Images

This English couple struck gold in 2012. Despite 14,000,000-to-one odds, they brought home £3.5 million, which they divvied out to family members, the Mirror reported.

"We gave £250,000 to each of our four sons, £10,000 to each of our nine grandchildren and gave some money to our sisters," they told the Mirror.

And they still have some leftover money — some of which goes toward more lottery tickets.

This English couple struck gold in 2012. Despite 14,000,000-to-one odds, they brought home £3.5 million, which they divvied out to family members, the Mirror reported.

We gave £250,000 to each of our four sons, £10,000 to each of our nine grandchildren and gave some money to our sisters, they told the Mirror.

And they still have some leftover money — some of which goes toward more lottery tickets.

Janite Lee made political donations.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea.Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

After winning $18 million in 1993, a wigmaker from South Korea used a good portion to support the Democratic Party, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

It turns out she was a bit too charitable — her donations, coupled with gambling and credit-card debt, left her filing for bankruptcy in 2001.

After winning $18 million in 1993, a wigmaker from South Korea used a good portion to support the Democratic Party, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

It turns out she was a bit too charitable — her donations, coupled with gambling and credit-card debt, left her filing for bankruptcy in 2001.

Charlie Lagarde opted for $1,000 a week to fund her photography studies.

Loto Quebec

After winning the lottery on the first and only ticket she had ever bought, Lagarde, newly turned 18, was offered the choice of either a $1 million (£550,000) lump sum or $1,000 (£550) a week for the rest of her life.

She chose the $1,000 a week, and said she wanted to use the money to travel and study photography.

"One of my dreams would be to work for National Geographic," she said, according to the Evening Standard.