Tag Archives: family
HBO Documentary 'Lucky' Explores the Lives of Lotto Winners
HBO Documentary ‘Lucky’ Explores the Lives of Lotto Winners
Despite the odds of winning the lottery (Approximately 1 in 195 million) many lucky lottery players have found themselves instant millionaires. All lottery players dream of that big win and wonder what it would be like to become instantly rich. A new documentary on HBO titled ‘Lucky’ takes a look at some lottery winners and their world. The documentary is the product of director Jeffrey Blitz who interviews several lo9tto winners whose world has been transformed by instant riches. Some winners were adept at handling money and others were not. One winner squandered all his winnings in a relatively short time. The 90 minute documentary explores what happens to several lottery winners.
Vietnamese immigrant Quang Dao who won one of the biggest jackpots in lottery history along with seven coworkers at a Lincoln Nebraska meat packing plant shows off the four McMansions he is building son that his children and grandchildren can be near him. After the fall of South Viet Nam in the 1970’s Quang Dao and his family escaped from the war torn country by boat and came to this country with nothing. In their custom made fireplace hearth Quang and his wife have an etched drawing of the refugee boat they escaped in. The story of the Dao family is heartwarming and the Dao family is truly grateful for their good fortune.
The dark side of lotteries is also covered. A Delaware working mother named Verna is also a gambling addict who spends $70 to $100 dollars a day buying lottery tickets in hopes of a big win. Verna picks her lottery numbers on ‘magical’ thought and various superstitious beliefs. There is also the happy story of Kristine and Steven White who lived in New Jersey and won $110 million in 2004 playing the Pennsylvania lottery. Initially the couple lived in the same house and their teenage son still worked at a fast food restaurant. The Whites used part of their winnings to offer financial aid to sick children. When director Blitz interviews the couple a year later they have moved into a private compound in Florida and Steve maintains a sports car collection.
The cautionary tale of Buddy, a former firefighter who squandered all his winnings is sobering. Buddy is now penniless and dependent on an oxygen tent and the kindness of friends. The documentary presents both sides of big lottery wins and the positive or negative experience a huge lottery payout can bring.
Facebook Removes Fake Page of S. Dakota Powerball Winner
Facebook Removes Fake Page of S. Dakota Powerball Winner
Recently a South Dakota rancher who had fallen on hard times won the Powerball lottery. Neal Wanless, the winner, will walk away with $88 million after taxes. The big win received extensive press coverage. It was reported that the Wanless family had a mobile home repossessed and that the family couldn’t afford a phone. Mr. Wanless displayed a great amount of humility about his new found fortune vowing not to squander his winnings and promised to help those in the community who had supported the Wanless family during hard times.
It has been reported that someone using Wanless’s name set up a facebook page using his name. The profile using Wanless’s name quickly acquired 120 ‘friends.’ The Facebook page used the big winner’s real name and featured a picture of a cowboy riding into the sunset. On the information page was, “Looking For: Dating.” So far Powerball winner Wanless has issued no statement regarding the fake Facebook page. Facebook spokesman Simon Axten said the page has been disabled because it violates
Facebook’s terms and policies. Axten further stated, “Facebook has always been based on a real-name culture. We think this leads to greater accountability and a safer and more trusted environment for our users. It’s a violation of our policies to use a fake name or operate under another person’s identity, and we encourage users to report anyone they think is doing this, either through the report links we provide on the site or through the contact forms on our Help page.”
Before the page was shut down many well wishers had posted messages. One message read, “Must be nice! Being a single mom of 3 kids, I could definitely use a lottery win right now”¦ maybe then I could actually afford a house ¦ keep on dreaming right?”
Facebook spokesman Axten said he could not comment on the possibility of charges against the person who set up the fake page but said the company generally does not press charges for fake pages. So far Powerball winner Wanless seems to be taking his big win in stride. Neighbors of Wanless have no doubt that he will fulfill his promise to pay the community back for their generosity towards his family during troubled times.
Computer technology could very well affect the way lotteries do business in the near future. Several states are considering moves that would make the sale of online lottery tickets legal. Players will be able to log on to state lottery websites and make an online lottery purchase. Cash strapped states hope to fill state coffers with new lottery money by combining lotteries with 21st century technology.