What Does He Mean It’s Gone?!!

Jack Whittacker, winner of a $315M Powerball prize ($113M after taxes) in December of 2002, claims his money is gone. In just over 4 years he is supposedly broke. According to him, thieves stole his money after gaining access to his bank accounts and cashing a series of checks. First of all, who keeps that kind of money in a checking account? Second of all, what bank is going to let checks large enough to bleed this man of his fortune simply go through without a question? There are definitely some holes in this man’s story. Do I doubt the money is gone? Not entirely. Is it possible thieves played a hand in his circumstance? Sure. This man has been in the news quite a bit as a result of some of the circles he travels in. Relatives have died of drug overdoses. He himself has made headlines for his gambling and alcohol usage. Making good choices does not appear to be a habit for him.

Still, $113M is a lot of money. To imagine how a man wearing Wrangler jeans and a plaid shirt could have gone through that many Ben Franklins is impossible. Where did it all go? He must have some assets as a result of his fortune he could translate into cash. Perhaps he bought some real estate, a few cars, fancy paintings or statues that could be sold for money. Please tell me it wasn’t all lost to drugs, alcohol, thieves and gambling. If it’s true, the man is not only broke, he’s broken.

I’d like to believe if I ever found myself dripping in dollars that I’d make better choices and preserve some sort of financial security for myself. As for Jack Whittaker, what’s done is done. The best he can do is check under the couch cushions in the hopes money fell from his pockets when they were still thick with bills and coins.

4 Responses to “What Does He Mean It’s Gone?!!”

  1. Holly says:

    For some reason, it seems that the ones who make bad financial decisions are always the ones that win the lottery.
    I mean, really, have you ever seen a stock analyst or investment banker win the lotto?

  2. beth says:

    I’d like to have a chance to see how well I’d do with that kind of money. Wildman and I usuall buy a Lotto and a Powerball ticket on Saturday and Wednesday nights and when we check the the #’s the next day, we always discuss what we would do with “that kind of money”. It’s a nice daydream.
    Cheers

  3. Someone irresponsible and who is also an addict could go through that bling in a hurry.

  4. mark says:

    i couldn’t figure it out either…