Money management is a skill many never learn, but the lottery winners who are still rich or made more money seem to have mastered it.
Winning the lottery is a rare event, yet every time the jackpot skyrockets everyone rushes to buy lottery tickets for the chance to strike gold. It reminds me of that episode of Friends where they all buy lottery tickets and plan out what they could win. Of course, Ross gives the boring answer and wants to invest it while everyone else wants to do something a lot more fun, but he’s oddly enough the most pragmatic in this scenario. I have sometimes contemplated what I would do if I won the lottery, and I think I’d be too nervous to spend any money. The amount people win from the lottery isn’t even accurate anyway since some of it goes to taxes, and if you choose to cash out everything right away you lose a chunk of it. You can do the monthly payment option, but it just means you’re basically getting a salary. It’s still a lot of money, but I’d be way too nervous to get overzealous about it.
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We often hear stories about people who win the lottery and then go completely broke shortly afterward. Like I said, I’d be too scared to get excited and spend all the money, which is exactly what many people do. It’s only natural to want to spend money when you finally have some of it, but it goes more quickly than you’d think. It’s always a nice story when someone wins the lottery and is smart about their money so they can stay rich. It’s even better when those winners learn how to manage the money so they can continue to make money. Investing is a pretty good option, and though I don’t know how it works I’m proud that some people do. Those who don’t probably ended up on our list of the Worst Lottery Winner Horror Stories Problems with Winning the Lottery.
To create this list, we tracked past lottery winners through Biggest Lottery Winners and took a look and what they did with their winnings afterward. Some were able to double the amount they won through various investments. We ranked these smart winners by the amount they won. For the updated winnings, we converted the amount into US dollars.
Without further ado, here are the lottery winners who are still rich or made more money.
11. Mark Brudenell
Winnings: £917,000 ($1.5 million in 1997)
Mark Brudenell won £917,000 in 1997. He was a chemical tanker driver before winning, and after he won he opened up his own profitable double glazing business.
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10. Emma Wildin
Winnings: £1 million ($1.5 million in 2013)
Emma Wildin won £1 million from the Millionaire 777’s scratch card. With her financial advisor husband Philip, they made good decisions for how to manage the money. They bought two rental properties that they manage, which provides enough income.
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9. Eloise Hutchinson-Heard
Winnings: £1.3 million ($2 million in 2011)
Eloise was a teenager when she won the £1.3 million lotto. She invested her money into a mobile beauty business and her husband David started an online toy company.
Copyright: defotoberg / 123RF Stock Photo
8. Deana Sampson
Winnings: £5.4 million ($8.5 million in 1996)
Deana Sampson was a regular mobile hairdresser when she won a £5.4 million jackpot. She invested in an online lingerie business, opened a bar, and got hooked in the restaurant industry. She also has a health rental property portfolio.
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7. Roy Gibney
Winnings: £7.5 million ($12.3 million in 1998)
Roy Gibney was a sheet metal worker when he won a £7.5 million jackpot. Now he owns his own sheet metal company and bought a mansion where he lives with his partner Darlene.
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6. Karen Child
Winnings: £8.5 million ($16.7 million in 2007)
As a single mother of three, Karen Child won a jackpot worth £8.5 million. Now she owns two local bars, became a director and shareholder for Sheffield Sharks basketball team, and is currently working on a charity project.
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5. Jackie King
Winnings: £14 million ($23 million in 1998)
Jackie King’s £14 million winnings went toward her successful rental property portfolio investment. She is one of the lottery winners who are still rich or made more money.
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4. Philip Pina
Winnings: $29.5 million
Philip Pina won a $29.5 million Powerball lottery. He runs his own automotive shop now and also travels all around the country.
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3. Les Robins
Winnings: $111 million
Les Robins put his $111 million Powerball winnings toward opening up a summer camp for kids and adults to enjoy called Camp Winnegator. The camp has stables, a mini golf course, and water toys.
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2. Cynthia Stafford
Winnings: $112 million
After winning $112 million, Cynthia Stafford, the next one in our list of lottery winners who are still rich or made more money, bought a new house and pool and then began her own film production company. She is the CEO of Queen Nefertari Productions.
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1. Brad Duke
Winnings: $220 million
Brad Duke continued to work at Gold’s Gym for two and a half years after winning a $220 million jackpot. He invested in real estate and home security.
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That concludes our list of the lottery winners who are still rich or made more money. Though we can’t all win the lottery, it’s inspiring to see people successfully invest and start new business ventures.
