Big Wins

The Lottery Curse: Jackpot Winners Who Met Tragic Ends

Winning a massive jackpot should be the beginning of a dream life. Instead, for a disturbing number of lottery and casino winners, it marks the beginning of a nightmare. Murder, bankruptcy, addiction, family destruction, and suicide have followed some of history's biggest winners. The phenomenon is so common that researchers and media alike have given it a name: the lottery curse.

According to the National Endowment for Financial Education, approximately 70% of lottery winners end up broke within seven years. But for some, losing their fortune is the least of their problems. Their stories serve as cautionary tales about the unexpected dangers of sudden wealth.

Did You Know? The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 292 million. Yet statistically, your odds of being murdered if you win are estimated to be significantly higher than average. Researchers at Vanderbilt University found that lottery winners are more likely to file for bankruptcy than non-winners within 3-5 years of their win.

Jack Whittaker: The $315 Million Nightmare

On Christmas Day 2002, Jack Whittaker won $314.9 million in the Powerball lottery—the largest single-ticket jackpot in American history at that time. The West Virginia contractor already had a net worth of around $17 million before his win, and he seemed like the perfect person to handle sudden wealth. He was wrong.

Within a year of winning, thieves broke into Whittaker's car while it was parked at a strip club and stole $545,000 in cash that he inexplicably carried around in a suitcase. This was just the beginning of a downward spiral that would consume everything he had.

December 2002

Jack Whittaker wins $314.9 million Powerball jackpot in West Virginia.

2003

$545,000 stolen from his car at a strip club. Whittaker faces lawsuits and arrests for DUI and assault.

2004

Granddaughter's boyfriend found dead from drug overdose in Whittaker's home.

2004

Granddaughter Brandi Bragg, 17, found dead from drug overdose. Whittaker had given her $2,100 weekly allowance.

2009

Daughter Ginger found dead under mysterious circumstances.

2016

Whittaker's home burns down. He later admits he's broke and wishes he'd torn up the ticket.

"Since I won the lottery, I think there is no control for greed. I wish I'd torn that ticket up." — Jack Whittaker, quoted in multiple interviews

The granddaughter Whittaker adored, Brandi Bragg, became addicted to drugs after receiving access to unlimited money. She was found dead wrapped in a plastic sheet behind a junked van, a victim of an apparent overdose. Her boyfriend had died of an overdose in Whittaker's home just months earlier. Whittaker's daughter Ginger was found dead five years later.

By 2016, Whittaker admitted he was completely broke. His fortune, his family, and his happiness had all been destroyed by what should have been his greatest stroke of luck. He died in 2020, a broken man who spent his final years warning others about the dangers of sudden wealth.

Abraham Shakespeare: Murdered for His Millions

Abraham Shakespeare was a truck driver's assistant earning minimum wage when he won $30 million in the Florida lottery in 2006. The 42-year-old was functionally illiterate but had a generous heart, reportedly giving away hundreds of thousands of dollars to friends, family, and strangers who approached him with hard-luck stories.

Shakespeare's downfall came in the form of DeeDee Moore, a woman who befriended him under the guise of writing a book about his life. According to court testimony, Moore systematically took control of Shakespeare's finances, draining his remaining wealth while isolating him from family and friends.

In April 2009, Abraham Shakespeare was shot twice in the chest and buried under a concrete slab in a backyard. He wasn't reported missing until November 2009, and his body wasn't discovered until January 2010. DeeDee Moore was convicted of first-degree murder in 2012 and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

What Happened: Abraham Shakespeare's murder remains one of the most notorious cases of the "lottery curse." Prosecutors argued that Moore killed Shakespeare to take what remained of his lottery winnings. After his death, Moore continued to send text messages from Shakespeare's phone to family members, pretending he was still alive.

Urooj Khan: Poisoned the Day After His Win

Urooj Khan's story is one of the most chilling in lottery history. The 46-year-old immigrant from India had built a successful life in Chicago, owning three dry-cleaning businesses. In June 2012, he won $1 million on an Illinois instant lottery ticket—not enough to quit working, but a life-changing sum nonetheless.

Khan was filmed collecting his ceremonial oversized check, beaming with joy. The next day, the state issued his actual check for approximately $425,000 after taxes. The day after that, Urooj Khan was dead.

Initially, his death was ruled natural—a result of hardened arteries. But a relative pushed for further investigation, and a second autopsy revealed the truth: Khan had been killed by cyanide poisoning. As of 2026, the case remains officially unsolved, though investigators focused heavily on those closest to him.

The timing was impossible to ignore. According to Chicago Tribune reporting, Khan died just as his estate was positioned to cash the check. Someone wanted him dead before he could enjoy—or protect—his winnings.

Billie Bob Harrell Jr.: "Winning the Lottery Is the Worst Thing That Ever Happened to Me"

Billie Bob Harrell Jr. was a Home Depot shelf stocker struggling to support his family when he won $31 million in the Texas Lotto in 1997. A devout Christian, Harrell immediately began sharing his fortune. He donated generously to his church, bought cars for friends, and gave money to almost anyone who asked.

The spending and lending spiraled out of control. Harrell made a disastrous deal with a company that gave him a lump sum in exchange for his annual payments—a transaction that cost him millions. His marriage fell apart under the strain of constant requests for money and his inability to say no.

Less than two years after his win, Billie Bob Harrell Jr. locked himself in his bedroom and took his own life. Shortly before his death, he confided to a financial adviser: "Winning the lottery is the worst thing that ever happened to me."

The Megabucks Curse

Casino jackpots carry their own dark legend. The Megabucks slot machine, which links progressive jackpots across Nevada, has spawned persistent rumors of a "Megabucks curse." Several winners have reportedly met tragic ends, though the casino and gaming industry have never officially acknowledged any pattern.

The most famous case connected to the Megabucks legend involves Cynthia Jay-Brennan, who won $34.9 million in 2000 at the Desert Inn. Just seven weeks later, a drunk driver struck her car, killing her sister and leaving Jay-Brennan paralyzed from the chest down. She has spent her life since then in a wheelchair, her fortune paying for round-the-clock medical care.

Contrast this with the story of the man who won $39 million and disappeared—a winner who took the opposite approach, vanishing from public life entirely. His strategy of total privacy may have been his salvation.

Did You Know? Some states allow lottery winners to remain anonymous, which financial advisors and psychologists strongly recommend. According to the American Gaming Association, states that allow anonymous claims report fewer incidents of harassment, fraud, and violence against winners. Use our Jackpot Odds Calculator to understand just how rare these wins actually are.

Why Does the Curse Happen?

Researchers have identified several factors that contribute to the tragedy that follows many big wins:

Sudden Wealth Syndrome

Psychologists at the American Psychological Association have documented a phenomenon called "sudden wealth syndrome"—a cluster of symptoms including anxiety, guilt, isolation, and confusion that can follow unexpected financial windfalls. Winners often struggle with questions of identity and purpose when work is no longer necessary.

Predatory Targeting

Winners become immediate targets. Long-lost relatives, scammers, investment schemers, and occasionally violent criminals all see a newly wealthy person as an opportunity. Without proper legal and financial protection, winners are vulnerable to exploitation from every direction.

Lifestyle Inflation

Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that lottery winners tend to dramatically increase their spending immediately after winning, often on depreciating assets like cars and houses for extended family. This rapid spending, combined with poor investment decisions and the tax burden on large payouts, can deplete even eight-figure jackpots surprisingly quickly.

Destroyed Relationships

Money changes every relationship a winner has. Family members may feel entitled to a share. Friends may become resentful or expectant. Spouses may have different ideas about how to spend the fortune. The result is often isolation, divorce, and estrangement—sometimes with violent consequences.

Protecting Yourself: What Financial Experts Recommend

While the lottery curse makes for compelling tragedy, experts say it's largely preventable. The winners who survive and thrive tend to follow certain practices:

Sign the ticket and tell no one until you've assembled a team of professionals
Hire a lawyer, accountant, and financial advisor before claiming the prize
Claim anonymously if your state allows it (as of 2026, 11 states permit this)
Take the annuity rather than lump sum to prevent rapid spending
Set clear boundaries with family and friends about financial requests
Seek psychological counseling to deal with the identity shifts that come with sudden wealth

The National Council on Problem Gambling also notes that winners with pre-existing gambling problems often escalate dramatically after a big win, leading to rapid loss of their fortune through continued gambling. Our Bankroll Simulator demonstrates how even large bankrolls can be depleted through continued play against the house edge.

The Lesson of the Curse

The lottery curse isn't supernatural—it's a predictable consequence of sudden wealth arriving without preparation. Those who understand the risks, take immediate protective action, and resist the urge to announce their win to the world have the best chance of avoiding tragedy.

Perhaps the most important lesson comes from the winners we never hear about: those who claim their prizes quietly, live modestly, and protect their privacy fiercely. Unlike Jack Whittaker, Abraham Shakespeare, or the other tragic figures of lottery history, they understand that the real jackpot isn't the money—it's surviving long enough to enjoy it.

For more stories about the strange psychology of gambling, see our articles on gambling superstitions and rituals and how near misses trick your brain. And for those curious about winners who tried to beat the system through less tragic means, explore the story of casino whales who won and lost fortunes at the tables.

Final Thought: If you ever win a significant sum, remember the stories in this article. The first thing you should do is stay quiet, hire professionals, and create a plan. The lottery curse isn't inevitable—but ignoring its lessons might be.