3. Suicide
In 1997, a similar rags-to-riches story played out for Billie Bob Harrell Jr. He won a whopping $31 million and immediately set about taking his family on luxurious trips and donating profusely to charity.
Despite his new tax bracket his wife left him within a year and he was constantly hounded by unscrupulous ‘well-wishers’ looking for a piece of his massive payday. He was forced to constantly change his phone number and eventually the pressure became too much.
Less than two years after winning he took his own life with a gun after telling his financial advisor that winning the lottery was the worst thing that had ever happened to him.
