Have You Ever Won Anything Big?

[N80]

When I was a kid, my younger brother, who was about 10 at the time, filled out a card for my mother in a drug store entering them in a chance to win a trip to Hawaii. And they won. Flight, hotels, meals, tours, rental car, full set of luggage, a camera and $1000 spending money.

He got the camera.

I had a friend in the Air Force that paid to subscribe to this service that sends you info on almost every contest going on in the country. Cost something like $10 a month and whatever you spend on postage to send stuff in. He won tons of stuff, including a week in Vale, Colorado for some type of wine festival.

 

[EddieWalker]

I went to a party at the Australian Embassy for the Melborne Cup twenty years ago. It was a big deal for them and quite a fancy party. For fun, they had plastic horses with a track painted on the ground. Then people bought tickets and gambled on the horses. I didn't have a clue what it was all about, but did end up with a ticket of some kind. Turned out that I won the door prize, which was a paid trip to Bali for me and a friend. Air fare and hotel. I took a buddy of mine and we had a great time!!!

A friends cousin won 7 million in the Texas Lotto about ten years ago, maybe more. She spent it faster then she got it and is totally broke. Mostly it went on show off stuff like jewelry, gifts and cars. They bought a big house, but had to sell it a few years ago. What's really funny is how much the family dislikes her. Seems that whatever she gave away to them wasn't enough and now that she's broke, they all think she deserves it. Just weird.

Eddie

 

[Farmwithjunk]

A pair of Levi's Jeans back when they were under $8 retail. (1972)

An autographed picture of Dale Earnhardt Sr and Dale Jr together at the drivers meeting before the NASCAR exibition race is Japan

No sense in using up ALL my luck just yet

 

[N80]

I think it is pretty amazing that so many people strike it rich, whether its lottery winners, athletes, rock stars etc that end up totally broke and unhappy or still rich and unhappy. You hear stories about the lottery winners all the time that either 1) end up broke again, 2) continue to live as if they never won (still work at the mill, etc) or 3) the money totally ruins their lives.

Now, I feel certain that those stories are probably the exceptional ones. We hear about them because they are interesting. And while I think they are common I am sure there are plenty of lottery winners who become rich AND happy.

At the same time I know for a fact that money alone can't make all people happy. I also know for a fact that lack of money alone can't make all people unhappy. As in so many things, it aint the money, its the person. The amazing thing is that everyone always thinks that money is the key to happiness, or more happiness or better happiness regardless of the fact that wisdom or common sense or religion or the historical evidence are pretty clear that it isn't true and that the opposite is often true.

I don't play the lottery. Ever. My own reasons....but usually that whenever I have 1, 2, 10 or 20 bucks I can always think of something I'd rather spend it on right then and there than what will always (in terms of practical statistics) be a worthless piece of paper.

But, would I risk the 'misery' that can come with extreme wealth if someone was giving it away? You betcha!

 

[Georgia Boy]

Well, money is not everything because a man with ten million ain't no happier than a man with nine million!

 

[Podunkadunk]

I don't play the lottery. Ever. My own reasons....but usually that whenever I have 1, 2, 10 or 20 bucks I can always think of something I'd rather spend it on right then and there than what will always (in terms of practical statistics) be a worthless piece of paper.

In college, my stats professor said: "Lotteries are for people who flunked statistics!" As a class project, we analyzed several states' lotto's...the odds were astounding . I haven't bought a ticket since. Now, if I ever get hit by lightning and survive, I may play...odds are better and the way I figure it, maybe my lucky number is approaching!

I just don't think it's my destiny to win some large, high-dollar prize. I'm not saying that I wouldn't take it if it were offered with no strings attached .

I could see how someone could end up poorer after hitting the lottery and going on a spending spree, it's logical and there are many examples throughout this post. What I find hard to believe are the ones who end up indigent. I mean, what did they buy with all that money? Alcohol, women and drugs? It seems that even people who blow all their money would have assets at the end of it all. Unlike the guy who took out loans against the money he didn't have yet, they'd still be able to liquidate and have some pocket change...

Podunk

 

[texasjohn]

Biggest winning in the family was my son. He joined American Airlines just before Xmas maybe 10+ years ago. At the Xmas party, everybody was invited to look under the seat of their chair. Under his seat was two first class passes to anywhere in the world... or maybe it was Europe. Anyway, we used them on a trip to Scotland and he purchased two employee discount tickets so the wife, myself, two sons all spent 13 or so days driving around Scotland.

It was the typical... win something and, BEHOLD, money begins to flow out of your pocket Nevertheless, we saw castles, particularly the home castle, etc... and actually in the back country saw an old fellow wandering down a country lane in a well worn kilt... we all got kilts and my AA (thats American Airlines) son wore his at his wedding... In Brazil It was a great experience that we would not have had if he had not won those two tickets.

By the way... flying first class is the only way to go... I recommend the crab legs

 

[elad]

Years ago I won $600 on the world series. Big deal then.

 

[Tig]

This is biggest thing I have ever won. Still waiting for a call from the bigs.....

 

[txdon]

AAAHHHHHHHHHH!
This thread brings back a very bad memory.

I got the "Z" in the Taco Bell Godzilla contest which meant I WIN ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

However (the bad memory) I left it on the table at Taco Bell in Giddings Texas and did not realize what I had just given away until I read the small print a few days later and saw the astronomical odds that there were on getting the "Z". I Really considered taking off work and try to trace the "Z" to the landfill area but then considered my odds at finding it again would be even higher.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGG!