Rip up the winning ticket? 5 reasons why winning lottery can destroy lives

With the Powerball jackpot reaching record highs, the risks of winning the lottery are often overlooked.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 6:48pm

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An extreme close-up of a shattered car sensor lens reflecting a faint red light, conceptually illustrating the vandalism of self-driving cars.As tensions over autonomous vehicles escalate, a recent wave of targeted street vandalism exposes pent-up frustration with driverless technology.Union Today

While the dream of winning the lottery is enticing, there are numerous stories of how people's lives have actually changed for the worse after winning millions. From being targeted by criminals, to strained relationships with family and friends, to feelings of guilt and boredom, the lottery can bring a host of unexpected challenges that many winners struggle to overcome.

Why it matters

The lottery represents a chance at life-changing wealth, but the reality is that 70% of winners end up going bankrupt within a few years. This story highlights the lesser-known pitfalls of sudden wealth that lottery winners must navigate, serving as a cautionary tale for those who fantasize about hitting the jackpot.

The details

Winning the lottery can lead to a flood of requests for money from family, friends, and strangers that never seem to stop. It also makes winners targets for criminals, as seen in tragic cases like that of Abraham Shakespeare, who was murdered after winning $17 million. Relationships with loved ones can become strained as winners have to learn to say no to constant pleas for financial assistance. Additionally, the guilt of being the sole winner and the boredom that can set in after the initial excitement wears off can take an emotional toll. Overall, the lottery's promise of easy riches is often undermined by the real-world challenges that come with sudden wealth.

  • In 2006, Sandra Hayes won the Missouri Lottery, splitting a $224 million prize with 12 coworkers.
  • In 2009, Abraham Shakespeare, who won $17 million in the Florida Lottery in 2006, was killed and his body was found under a concrete slab.
  • In 2012, Urooj Khan of Chicago won a $425,000 lump-sum lottery payment, but died of cyanide poisoning before collecting his winnings.
  • In November 2015, Craigory Burch won almost $435,000 in the Georgia lottery, but was found dead in his home from gunshot wounds just two months later.

The players

Sandra Hayes

A Missouri Lottery winner who split a $224 million prize with 12 coworkers in 2006. She wrote a book called 'How Winning the Lottery Changed My Life' and spoke about the difficulty of dealing with constant requests for money from family and friends.

Abraham Shakespeare

A Florida Lottery winner who won $17 million in 2006. He was later killed, and his body was found under a concrete slab at the home of an acquaintance of a woman named Dee Dee Moore, who reportedly wanted to write a book about his experiences and manage his money.

Urooj Khan

A Chicago resident who won a $425,000 lump-sum lottery payment in 2012, but died of cyanide poisoning before collecting his winnings.

Craigory Burch

A Georgia lottery winner who won almost $435,000 in November 2015, but was found dead in his home from gunshot wounds just two months later.

Don McNay

A financial consultant to lottery winners and the author of 'Life Lessons from the Lottery,' who has said that many winners end up unhappy or broke.

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What they’re saying

“I had to endure the greed and the need people have, trying to get you to release your money to them. That caused a lot of emotional pain. These are people who you've loved deep down, and they're turning to vampires, trying to suck the life out of me.”

— Sandra Hayes, Missouri Lottery Winner

“People commit suicide. People run through their money. Easy comes, easy goes. They go through divorce, or people die.”

— Don McNay, Financial Consultant to Lottery Winners

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.