Interesting article about 2002 Powerball winner who was a complete degen and ruined a West Virginia town

[Dan Druff]

Jack Whitaker was a hardworking grandfather in rural West Virginia, and thought he had hit all but one number on Powerball, getting him something like $100k. He awakened the next morning to find out that the TV report made a mistake, and he had actually hit all of the numbers. This gave him a $314 million jackpot, which he took as a lump sum of $113m (not sure why such a huge difference).

Whitaker at first appeared to be the model of huge jackpot winners. He announced he'd live life the same, aside from quitting his job, and would give a way a lot of the money to people in need. However, as lots of people kept hassling him with their hands out (including many scammers), and as he succumbed to the temptation to spend lots of his time at a strip club and throw his money around, he began to change.

Unfortunately, as Jack changed and became increasingly drunk, perverted, and irresponsible, it tore apart many lives in his small West Virginia town, especially several young people who fell under the influence of his increasingly troubled granddaughter.

Fascinating WaPo article from 2018, which I just read tonight. Long read but interesting: https://archive.ph/KFcld

[BCR]

Jack Whitaker was a hardworking grandfather in rural West Virginia, and thought he had hit all but one number on Powerball, getting him something like $100k. He awakened the next morning to find out that the TV report made a mistake, and he had actually hit all of the numbers. This gave him a $314 million jackpot, which he took as a lump sum of $113m (not sure why such a huge difference).

Whitaker at first appeared to be the model of huge jackpot winners. He announced he'd live life the same, aside from quitting his job, and would give a way a lot of the money to people in need. However, as lots of people kept hassling him with their hands out (including many scammers), and as he succumbed to the temptation to spend lots of his time at a strip club and throw his money around, he began to change.

Unfortunately, as Jack changed and became increasingly drunk, perverted, and irresponsible, it tore about many lives in his small West Virginia town, especially several young people who fell under the influence of his increasingly troubled granddaughter.

Fascinating WaPo article from 2018, which I just read tonight. Long read but interesting: https://archive.ph/KFcld

I remember this dude like it was yesterday. Went from building churches to getting pulled over with strippers and stacks of cash. I’m on my phone and the article is full of pop ups. I’ll read it later, but recall the guys quick descent.

[FRANKRIZZO]

Speed read through article , good thing he spent the money responsibly. I would change my name and move to Hawaii if I won.

[tgull]

I did not read the article, only because it is too long and from 5 years ago. But I remember as clear as day when he won, he was on CNN saying he was already a millionaire and the money would not change his life. You'd read articles here and there on his degen lifestyle in the coming years, one in particular he had a duffel bag of $50,000 stolen from the front seat of his car when he was getting hammered at a strip club. Then I believe his granddaughter died from drugs. I believe his wife left him saying winning the lottery was the worst thing that ever happened to their life. Like I said, I did not read the article. No offense but why are you posting articles about dead guys from 5 years ago? If you are going to do that, post something about Larry King or James Goldofini, someone interesting.

[gut]

Jack Whitaker was a hardworking grandfather in rural West Virginia, and thought he had hit all but one number on Powerball, getting him something like $100k. He awakened the next morning to find out that the TV report made a mistake, and he had actually hit all of the numbers. This gave him a $314 million jackpot, which he took as a lump sum of $113m (not sure why such a huge difference).

Whitaker at first appeared to be the model of huge jackpot winners. He announced he'd live life the same, aside from quitting his job, and would give a way a lot of the money to people in need. However, as lots of people kept hassling him with their hands out (including many scammers), and as he succumbed to the temptation to spend lots of his time at a strip club and throw his money around, he began to change.

Unfortunately, as Jack changed and became increasingly drunk, perverted, and irresponsible, it tore about many lives in his small West Virginia town, especially several young people who fell under the influence of his increasingly troubled granddaughter.

Fascinating WaPo article from 2018, which I just read tonight. Long read but interesting: https://archive.ph/KFcld

Deflation-adjusted for living in West Virginia?

[FRANKRIZZO]

On a side note there was a guy who had access to the lottery number generator years ago that was able to program the numbers had his brother try and cash out they caught him on video purchasing the ticket.

[aayjay]

... and as he succumbed to the temptation to spend lots of his time at a strip club and throw his money around, he began to change.

Unfortunately, as Jack changed and became increasingly drunk, perverted, and irresponsible, it tore about many lives in his small West Virginia town, especially several young people who fell under the influence of his increasingly troubled granddaughter.

Fascinating WaPo article from 2018, which I just read tonight. Long read but interesting: https://archive.ph/KFcld

Any chance Guy was on Requip ?

[ftpjesus]

Jack Whitaker was a hardworking grandfather in rural West Virginia, and thought he had hit all but one number on Powerball, getting him something like $100k. He awakened the next morning to find out that the TV report made a mistake, and he had actually hit all of the numbers. This gave him a $314 million jackpot, which he took as a lump sum of $113m (not sure why such a huge difference).

Whitaker at first appeared to be the model of huge jackpot winners. He announced he'd live life the same, aside from quitting his job, and would give a way a lot of the money to people in need. However, as lots of people kept hassling him with their hands out (including many scammers), and as he succumbed to the temptation to spend lots of his time at a strip club and throw his money around, he began to change.

Unfortunately, as Jack changed and became increasingly drunk, perverted, and irresponsible, it tore about many lives in his small West Virginia town, especially several young people who fell under the influence of his increasingly troubled granddaughter.

Fascinating WaPo article from 2018, which I just read tonight. Long read but interesting: https://archive.ph/KFcld

The 113M was cash option after taxes were taken out hence the big difference. Cash option runs 55-60% usually of the annuity and then Uncle Sam and WV got their mitts on a chunk also.

[Sanlmar]

Druff, you mentioned you took your son to the convenience store and allowed him to pick the numbers for power ball.

Here’s a lifetime memory for him. At the counter ask him if he would like the $2 now in cash or would he like to take a chance on the lottery instead.

His decision and your reaction could wire him right forever after.

Or you can buy him a fake mustache and together take that ride to Vegas.

[Dan Druff]

Druff, you mentioned you took your son to the convenience store and allowed him to pick the numbers for power ball.

Here’s a lifetime memory for him. At the counter ask him if he would like the $2 now in cash or would he like to take a chance on the lottery instead.

His decision and your reaction could wire him right forever after.

Or you can buy him a fake mustache and together take that ride to Vegas.

Speaking of the fake mustache, I've already told him about when I was 15 in 1987, and I played video poker at the Las Vegas Hilton.

I described how I searched for a machine far out of the way (kind of in the direction of the sportsbook, for those who know the property), made sure it was up against a wall (so my face wouldn't be easily visible), and how I would cash out after every single hand I won (because I knew I'd lose any credits in the machine if caught).

I also told him that my concern went beyond just my face, which didn't look any older than 15. Despite being 5'8", just a bit below average adult male height at the time, I mentioned that I had more of "a body of a skinny teenage boy" rather than the body of a man. So I knew that would eventually be my undoing, which it probably was. Though I suppose it's possible that the security guard walked by and saw the side of my face, and realized a kid was playing.

He asked me what happened when I was caught, and I told him that the security guard lectured me that I could go to jail for this (lol), but otherwise let me go. Surprisingly he did not attempt to track down my parents, who were actually aware of what I was doing and didn't care. Still, was nice to just be able to walk away. The guard did sufficiently scare me to where I didn't try again until I was 21.

[Ryback_feed_me_more]

Whittaker has nobody to blame but his own fucking money drunken stupidity for what happened to him and his family (I know the dude is dead now obviously). This is why the laws allowing anonymity are crucial. When people find out you've had a massive windfall they want some for themselves. In this case this stupid idiot brought alot of it on himself he thought he could act practically like Boss Hogg in the Dukes of Hazzard. Who the hell brings 100k to them with a strip club unless you're some dumbass black rapper who has armed bodyguards to protect themselves and such.

[NaturalBornHustler]

Whittaker has nobody to blame but his own fucking money drunken stupidity for what happened to him and his family (I know the dude is dead now obviously). This is why the laws allowing anonymity are crucial. When people find out you've had a massive windfall they want some for themselves. In this case this stupid idiot brought alot of it on himself he thought he could act practically like Boss Hogg in the Dukes of Hazzard. Who the hell brings 100k to them with a strip club unless you're some dumbass black rapper who has armed bodyguards to protect themselves and such.

Most people I know with a million protect that information with their life. This dude got 113m and basically told the entire world. I know he had good intentions but that was a recipe for disaster, especially considering how poor of an area he lived in. The crazy part is how he just stayed there. Why the fuck would you want to stay there with 113m??? Pretty easy to pick up and leave when it gets crazy, instead he was riding around with 6 figures on cash on the regular, in a town where the median income was 1/4 of that.