The odds may be slim, but the purchases can be quite strange!
As the electrifying $1.7 billion Powerball jackpot looms this Saturday night, it’s worth noting that previous winners often end up making some rather peculiar and, yes, questionable spending decisions.
From extravagant family surgeries to fascinatingly odd investments, let’s take a look at some of the strange ways past lottery winners have used their newfound wealth.
Bigger, better, badder…naked –
At just 19, Jonathan Vargas became the youngest Powerball winner, taking home a $35.3 million jackpot. He decided to use part of his fortune to launch a campy wrestling show called “Wrestlicious.”
The show blended low-budget wrestling with sketch comedy and aired in 2010, just two years after Vargas found fame in South Carolina. He even recorded a rap for the show’s trailer, branding himself as “JV Rich.”
However, “Wrestlicious” quickly flopped, criticized for being everything from sexist to overtly repulsive, leading to its cancellation after just one season.
“High” life
Ronnie Music Jr. won $3 million in a Georgia scratch-off lottery and bizarrely invested in a meth trafficking operation.
After his 2015 win, the 44-year-old maintenance supervisor claimed he wanted to invest, but soon funneled funds into illegal activities that involved transporting large amounts of meth in Ware County, Georgia.
His illegal empire crumbled when his partner was caught trying to sell around 11 pounds of crystal meth. Music eventually pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and received a 21-year prison sentence.
Make a splash
John Kutey was one of seven winners who shared a $319 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2011. He chose to invest his portion in building a water park in his hometown of Green Island, New York.
Kutey made a $19 million donation for the project, and the SprayPark opened to rave reviews in 2013.
Previous breast sisters
When British winner Sarah Cockings scored a $4 million Loto jackpot at 21 in 2005, she quickly spent some on herself and her sisters’ cosmetic surgeries.
“Immediately after winning, I got my two sisters breast augmentations,” she reminisced, noting her own personal enhancement after having children. “It’s my two-year boob anniversary, and I love them.”
It’s full throttle
Michael Carroll, who hit the UK lottery for $13 million in 2002, used his winnings to build a backyard racetrack that hosted some wild demolition derbies.
Sadly, his fortune evaporated in less than a decade as he indulged in lavish parties, flashy cars, and an extravagant lifestyle. Now at 41, Carroll finds himself back working as a garbage collector after his indulgent years.
Pain House
Edwin Castro made headlines as the biggest Powerball winner ever, scoring $2.04 billion in 2022. He poured some of his wealth into luxury real estate, purchasing several mansions in California.
One of his acquisitions was a $3.8 million Malibu home, which sadly fell victim to the LA wildfires. He also spent $25.5 million on a property in Hollywood Hills, along with acquiring high-end vintage sports cars, including a $500,000 Porsche 911 GT2RS.
