Lottery Winner's Wife Regrets Ticket

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The wife of the lottery winner who took home the richest undivided jackpot in U.S. history says she regrets his purchase of the $314.9 million ticket that has thrust her family into the public spotlight.

"I wish all of this never would have happened," Jewel Whittaker told The Charleston Gazette for Tuesday's editions. "I wish I would have torn the ticket up."

Since winning the lottery two years ago, her husband, Jack Whittaker, has been arrested twice for drunken driving and has been ordered into rehab. He pleaded no contest Monday to a misdemeanor assault charge for attacking a bar manager, and is accused in two lawsuits of making trouble at a nightclub and a racetrack.

There have been several thefts involving Whittaker's vehicle, his office and his house in Scott Depot. One of the thefts occurred at his home in September on the same day an 18-year-old friend of Whittaker's granddaughter was found dead there. The death remains under investigation.

Last week Whittaker, 57, reported his granddaughter missing. Putnam County sheriff's Sgt. Lisa Arthur said the granddaughter is not considered a kidnapping victim.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=3&u=/ap/20041214/ap_on_re_us/lottery_winner_s_fall

Further proof that money can't buy happiness (it can only rent it for a little while)

don't know what she's crying about

it's the publicity not the money

people who get these huge windfalls without working for it... almost always end up doing inredibly stupid things with said money.

He's simply a rich schmuck in the limelight, now.

why a guy with over $100 million doesn't just have a driver to bring him everywhere?

There is no excuse for him carrying that much cash.


Better yet... could he be in violation of federal law regarding cash transactions involving $10,000 or more???????????

what he or she gets.

the remainder of his winnings to me! I'll know what to do with the money.

People who come into sudden wealth--generally lottery winners--find their lives deteriorate rapidly. It seems strange, given that most of us, certainly myself include, would love to be relieved of the burden of debt and worry over our next pay check. There are now professionals who offer services to lottery winners on how to handle their new found wealth. The lottery is the new American dream. It's all so strange.

Sometimes people used to working go nuts once they have nothing to do all day, being productive is a necessary requirement to stay psychologicaly healthy...

People don't foster outside interests because Americans spend too much time at work (whether it's productive time or not is another story). Then they go home and watch tv until it's time to do it all over again. People don't lead balanced lives so when they retire or suddenly become independently wealthy they have no idea what to do with themselves. It's really sad.

Now if that person wants to give that money to me, I would be happy to quit my job, pay my debts, live frugally off of a portion of the money, spend the rest on worthy causes, and spend my free time making art and traveling.

Winning that amount of money (even after taxes) is bound to be MAJOR stress. I wish them well. Perhaps from this they'll find out that monetary wealth pales in comparison to inner wealth. - K

theory!

Actually, I don't want a lot of money, just enough so I never have to worry about not having any!

would that be that you wouldn't have to worry about money? The more you have the more you will worry about it unless you have a very trusted advisor to handle it all for you, and then of course, he/she costs money, and gee, now that I have enough to live "forever" on, this house I'm in doesn't look quite good enough, could use a little addition here, some new appliances there. I applaud your motives, but it's human nature to want to up one's lifestyle with rising income. It's a weakness we all share. - K

for stary animals, and then travel EVERYWHERE! :)

if those are the best ideas you can come up with managing money. Anyway, I'm not dissing you really. Most of use think only of the money as something that will solve problems when often it can magnify them. For instance, think hard about your relationships to family and friends and whether they would be affected by you suddenly becoming a multi-millionaire. You might be surprised how your life gets turned around, and not all for the good. - K

IMO anyone that can't find something useful to do when they never have to work another day in their life or rob Peter to pay Paul is a complete idiot.

I've got an MBA and an advanced degree in Economics. I can figure it out myself. I'll prove it to you! Get these people to send me the differnce and i'll guarantee that i won't have this guy's issues. Guaranteed!
The Professor

The interest on that, in the safest investments, would give you the lifestyle of royalty. That's my figure. That's enough!

A tool shouldn't change your lifestyle. Keep it and your spending in perspective.

Most likely the winner had serious problems before he won the lottery.

If she can't handle it then give it to charity or directly to some very deserving poor people. Keep just enough to be comfortable and be done with the whole mess. They clearly cannot handle instant wealth and should divest themselves of the money before it kills them.

:eyes: Some people have real problems.

First things you do before you even CLAIM your prize...

a) Hire legal help for setting up a foundation
b) Put your house up for sale and find a place far away to relocate
c) Go travelling for a month in Europe while house is moved/built
d) Come back with money secure in new location with minimal media involvement (hopefully)

Staying at your current location / job is just asking for trouble - the first thing they do is SOMEONE in blah-blah city has won the lottery. The media descend like vultures and camp outside. If you're not home you're not bothered.

As for the DUI's... that's just plain stupid. You're ALREADY gaining far-too-much attention just breathing in the general vicinity... ;)

Anyway, that's what I would do. Wait. Plan. Chill. Claim & Leave.

They have their lawyer pick up the check.

Here's my two cents about what to do:

Set up a private corporation with you as sole shareholder, assign the winnings to the corporation. Have the corporation place winnings into something safe (money market funds?) and TAKE OFF FOR A YEAR! Charter a yacht, rent a chateau, disappear on an uncharted island -- anything that will give your mind a chance to adjust to the new reality. Talk to a psychologist, get your health up to speed with a complete physical and dental exam, hire a personal trainer and a nutritionist. Learn to meditate.

The idea is to have the clearest possible head before you make a single decision about what to do with the money.

Sit. Think. Act.

Then, once your mind is clear and your body is purified, do the only sensible thing -- write a check for the entire amount to me.

I'm willing to sit in the bar and wait a year.

...work through it. Besides it's my birthday, I deserve it.

That's R-A-S-T-E-R. The more zeros, the better.

in the Appalachians out of their poverty? You just might feel a little better, then.

i don't think some of you read the first response, which is true;

these people were millionaires *before* they were, umm, millionaires..... you know. the guy had several business ventures already.


so it wasn't the money, he was apparently an asshole, umm, *before* he was an asshole..... yeah.

that's the real problem.


of all of the people in west virginia, to hit the powerball..... it had to be some millionaire jackass, in a fuckin' cowboy hat.


goddamn.....

who kept getting in brawls at a topless bar and "lost" over a hundred thousand in said bar one night?

I recall watching him interviewed on the Today Show when he won the money...he went on and on about Jesus and doing his works bla bla bla

(Who knew Jesus hung out at strip joints getting bombed lol)

I think.

...be a drunken asshole after the money.

a friend of mine knows this family (I won't say how, too personal) and this is one screwed up family. The guy in question was a violent drunk before this lottery win ever came around.

I'll trade places with them, and they can take over for my job and start working for a living

she hates the publicity but goes ahead and gets herself quoted in a newspaper... idiot.

if she really was concerned then she should be donating all that money to several charitable organizations.

This bozo got a lot of attention when he won, because he was already very rich. There was a lot of publicity when he made a major donation to his fundie church. People were weeping with joy that a Man of God won the lottery -- all praises to the Lord!

One look at this guy and I would hear the train wreck coming. Its been like a bad reality show since then.

I sure don't want her and her husband to suffer.
:eyes:

I have lusted in my heart and in my loins. I was once a thespian. I have dabbled in philately. The only way I may atone is to take their heavy burden :nopity: and make it mine own. Amen. :cry:

me laugh so hard I almost peed in my pants.
Too Funny..(your post) :toast:

:nuke:

Let's write them a letter and suggest they use this money for armour for the troops.

Then rummy could have the army he wishes he had. Surely they want to help rummy out--Sounds like they're related.

I'd be glad to take that money off her hands and get a small house on a small plot of land outside a small town somewhere outside the US and just live quietly, same as I do now.

He was also already a drunk asshole(despite his appearances with his fundy minister). ALL of his problems were existent before he got RICHER.