Winning the lottery doesn’t seem like it would be up there in the ‘worst things’ category, but it turns out to be one of the worst thing that ever happened to most folks that win big lotteries. Even already wealthy people who ran multi-million dollar companies find their lives completely destroyed. Murder, constant lawsuits, and bankruptcy.

Some simple statistics: Large jackpot winners face double digit multiples of probability versus the general population to be the victim of:

1. Homicide (something like 20x more likely)
2. Drug overdose
3. Bankruptcy (how’s that for irony?)
4. Kidnapping

And triple digit multiples of probability versus the general population rate to be:

1. Convicted of drunk driving
2. The victim of Homicide (at the hands of a family member) 120x more likely in this case, ain’t love grand?
3. A defendant in a civil lawsuit
4. A defendant in felony criminal proceedings

It turns out, the worst enemy is yourself, but family, friends, and acquaintances will become an ever-present

Articles:

• Luck of the Draw: True-Life Tales of Lottery Winners
• https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/24vzgl/comment/chba4bf/