10 Bizarre Things People Have Spent Their Lotto Winnings On

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  • 1/10
    1. Robert Erb - Legalising Weed: After winning $25 million in 2012, Robert Erb decided that he would spend a good chunk of his money on charitable causes. However, his biggest contribution was an effort to legalize marijuana. The 61-year-old gave $1 million to support organizations that support the drug.
    1/10 1. Robert Erb - Legalising Weed: After winning $25 million in 2012, Robert Erb decided that he would spend a good chunk of his money on charitable causes. However, his biggest contribution was an effort to legalize marijuana. The 61-year-old gave $1 million to support organizations that support the drug.
  • 2/10
    2. Evelyn Adams – Gambled It In Atlantic City: Evelyn Adams somehow managed to win the lottery twice in the space of two years, netting almost $6 million in the process. But she spent every cent at casinos in Atlantic City and Adams now lives in a trailer park and has no assets.
    2/10 2. Evelyn Adams – Gambled It In Atlantic City: Evelyn Adams somehow managed to win the lottery twice in the space of two years, netting almost $6 million in the process. But she spent every cent at casinos in Atlantic City and Adams now lives in a trailer park and has no assets.
  • 3/10
    3. Michael Carroll – Home Made Destruction Derbies: Michael Carroll became well known in the UK after winning 15.8 million. He purchased an estimated $3,000 worth of crack cocaine every day, but he also bought several luxury cars and crashed them on a homemade racetrack. He eventually had to sell his mansion after losing all his wealth.
    3/10 3. Michael Carroll – Home Made Destruction Derbies: Michael Carroll became well known in the UK after winning 15.8 million. He purchased an estimated $3,000 worth of crack cocaine every day, but he also bought several luxury cars and crashed them on a homemade racetrack. He eventually had to sell his mansion after losing all his wealth.
  • 4/10
    4. Gerald Muswagon – Partying: a. Having won $10 million on the Super 7 jackpot lottery in 1998, Gerald Muswagon promptly began a partying lifestyle that involved hosting huge events and drinking large amounts of alcohol. Unfortunately, after losing his winnings Gerald tragically committed suicide in 2005.
    4/10 4. Gerald Muswagon – Partying: a. Having won $10 million on the Super 7 jackpot lottery in 1998, Gerald Muswagon promptly began a partying lifestyle that involved hosting huge events and drinking large amounts of alcohol. Unfortunately, after losing his winnings Gerald tragically committed suicide in 2005.
  • 5/10
    5. Suzanne Mullins – Getting Loans: Suzanne Mullins chose to secure a number of loans to get a large lump sum of cash rather than settle for the annual payments offered by the lottery organisations. As she struggled to pay off the debt in the required time, it grew until eventually it was worth more than the actual lottery winnings. Mullins went on to lose all of her assets following a number of court cases.
    5/10 5. Suzanne Mullins – Getting Loans: Suzanne Mullins chose to secure a number of loans to get a large lump sum of cash rather than settle for the annual payments offered by the lottery organisations. As she struggled to pay off the debt in the required time, it grew until eventually it was worth more than the actual lottery winnings. Mullins went on to lose all of her assets following a number of court cases.
  • 6/10
    6. Gloria MacKenzie – Upgrading Her Old School: Having won the biggest ever Powerball prize at $590 million, Gloria Mackenzie had plenty of cash to spare even after buying a brand new home and sharing some of the wealth with her friends and relatives. She decided that she wanted to donate money to good causes but chose a very specific one to help – her old high school. She gave them $2 million.
    6/10 6. Gloria MacKenzie – Upgrading Her Old School: Having won the biggest ever Powerball prize at $590 million, Gloria Mackenzie had plenty of cash to spare even after buying a brand new home and sharing some of the wealth with her friends and relatives. She decided that she wanted to donate money to good causes but chose a very specific one to help – her old high school. She gave them $2 million.
  • 7/10
    7. Janite Lee – Lost Her Money Being Too Kind: South Korean immigrant Janite Lee was awarded $18 million when she had the winning numbers to a lottery in St. Louis. While she spent a large proportion of the winnings on gambling, the vast majority of it was given to a number of good causes such as education programs, charities and political organizations. After giving away millions of dollars, she eventually went bankrupt.
    7/10 7. Janite Lee – Lost Her Money Being Too Kind: South Korean immigrant Janite Lee was awarded $18 million when she had the winning numbers to a lottery in St. Louis. While she spent a large proportion of the winnings on gambling, the vast majority of it was given to a number of good causes such as education programs, charities and political organizations. After giving away millions of dollars, she eventually went bankrupt.
  • 8/10
    8. Jonathan Vargas – Started Own Wrestling Show: One of the only things that Jonathan Vargas wanted to do with his $35 million lottery winnings was to buy his Mum a brand new house and set up his own wrestling television show. Called Wrestlicious, it featured scantily clad women fighting in a specially built pink ring as well as comedy sketches. Only one season was made and it was not considered a success by critics.
    8/10 8. Jonathan Vargas – Started Own Wrestling Show: One of the only things that Jonathan Vargas wanted to do with his $35 million lottery winnings was to buy his Mum a brand new house and set up his own wrestling television show. Called Wrestlicious, it featured scantily clad women fighting in a specially built pink ring as well as comedy sketches. Only one season was made and it was not considered a success by critics.
  • 9/10
    9. John Kutey – Built A Water Park: John Kutey won $28.7 million and one of the first things him and his wife did was spend $250,000 on demolishing a local pool and installing a huge spray park along with donating $200,000 to help build a water park in New York!
    9/10 9. John Kutey – Built A Water Park: John Kutey won $28.7 million and one of the first things him and his wife did was spend $250,000 on demolishing a local pool and installing a huge spray park along with donating $200,000 to help build a water park in New York!
  • 10/10
    10. Vivian Nicholson – Spending It All On Clothes: Vivian Nicholson won the lottery in the UK in 1961 and immediately went onto the news to announce that she intended to spend the money on the luxuries of life. She made good on her initial promise and spent the vast majority of the prize money on expensive designer clothing. Just four years later she was forced to declare bankruptcy.
    10/10 10. Vivian Nicholson – Spending It All On Clothes: Vivian Nicholson won the lottery in the UK in 1961 and immediately went onto the news to announce that she intended to spend the money on the luxuries of life. She made good on her initial promise and spent the vast majority of the prize money on expensive designer clothing. Just four years later she was forced to declare bankruptcy.

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Lotto Powerball is up to a massive $34 million tonight! 

So, we thought it'd be fitting to have a look at what other winners have spent their money on... 

Aaaaand it turns out, some of them are just plain crazy.Â