A Mega Millions jackpot winner recently disclosed that winning an enormous sum isn’t as wonderful as it might seem.
While many of us believe that a large bank account would significantly enhance our lives, the reality of newfound wealth may not be entirely positive.
The experience of this individual appears to have been a mix of both good and bad outcomes.
On Reddit, yesterday (September 9), an anonymous user invited questions about what it’s like to win a Mega Millions jackpot.
They posted: “In 2016, I won the MegaMillions jackpot and took home, after taxes, mid-eight figures. Ask me anything!!!”
Like many who suddenly find themselves wealthy, the winner offered financial assistance to their family, but things quickly turned negative.
Sharing some of the changes they’ve faced since the win, the Redditor revealed: “After I won, I met with my parents and siblings. I told them what had happened and made the offer to set each of them up with a new house and to establish trusts for each of my nieces and nephews to attend university.”
“They filed a lawsuit to try to place me in conservatorship to take control of my asset.”
A judge ‘laughed them out of the courtroom,’ and the individual has since severed ties with their family.
When asked about their relationship with their family before winning the jackpot, the winner responded: “My family was always toxic and the relationship was always strained. I expected them to not be satisfied with the offer I made to them, but I didn’t expect a legal knife in the back.”
Despite the difficulty of falling out with family, this person mentioned that their mental health has ‘improved exponentially’ since becoming estranged from them.
It wasn’t only their family who tried to benefit from their wealth; their friends did as well.
“I also approached a group of friends with a proposal to start a logistics consulting firm,” they explained. “I offered my friends six-figure salaries, profit sharing and bonuses. They said no, but asked me for the cash instead.”
The Redditor has since changed their name and has had no contact with their family and friends.
The jackpot winner issued a stern warning based on their experiences.
They advised: “The safest thing to do is to assume that everyone you tell is going to try to take your money from you.”