SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - Elderly Canadian Couple Rejects $11.3 Million Jackpot

Posted: Nov 04 2010 06:46 pm

In their defense, their reason is a good one, as is their method for disposing of it.

Quote:

"What you've never had, you never miss," 78-year-old Violet Large explained to a local reporter.

...

The money was a "headache," they told the paper--mainly, it brought anxiety over the prospect that "crooked people" might take advantage of them. Several people called them out of the blue to ask for money when the news first broke that they'd won the jackpot. So they began an $11 million donation spree to get rid of it and help others, the Chronicle Herald reports:

They took care of family first and then began delivering donations to the two pages' worth of groups they had decided on, including the local fire department, churches, cemeteries, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, hospitals in Truro and Halifax, where Violet underwent her cancer treatment, and organizations that fight cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes. The list goes on and on.

Violet told the Canadian Press that they retained about 2 percent of the money for a rainy day.

$225105.44 ($224462.76 USD) is still nothing to sneeze at, though.

Posted: Nov 04 2010 10:04 pm

If Canada was warmer, that's where I would want to live.

Posted: Nov 04 2010 10:25 pm

It makes one wonder what they were doing playing lottery if they didn't plan on keeping their prizes.

Posted: Nov 04 2010 10:33 pm

The thrill of playing maybe. Or once they got it, it was one of those "careful what you wish for" things.

I could imagine if I hit it big, 1,000 people I haven't heard from in years would suddenly talk to me trying to milk money off of me.

Puts a pretty large target on your back.

Posted: Nov 04 2010 10:38 pm

But is it mandatory to report to the media when you win big? The IRS needs to know, obviously, but can't you ask the lottery officials to keep it private?

I know the first thing I would do when I win big would be to get as far away as possible.

Posted: Nov 04 2010 11:26 pm

The-Excel wrote:

But is it mandatory to report to the media when you win big? The IRS needs to know, obviously, but can't you ask the lottery officials to keep it private?

I know the first thing I would do when I win big would be to get as far away as possible.

You absolutely cannot. One of the rules for claiming a lottery jackpot (Or probably any exceptionally large lottery payout) is that you must grant the lottery rights to use your name and likeness. Considering how large the payouts are and that it's government money, the need for transparency is pretty important, but it is unfortunate for those that win and want to be left the fuck alone.

Posted: Nov 05 2010 03:40 am

Well, I don't know how accurate this is now, but there's this note on the subject:

http://www.rotten.com/library/culture/lottery-winners/

Posted: Nov 05 2010 04:08 am

Dr. Jeebus wrote:

The-Excel wrote:

But is it mandatory to report to the media when you win big? The IRS needs to know, obviously, but can't you ask the lottery officials to keep it private?

I know the first thing I would do when I win big would be to get as far away as possible.

You absolutely cannot. One of the rules for claiming a lottery jackpot (Or probably any exceptionally large lottery payout) is that you must grant the lottery rights to use your name and likeness. Considering how large the payouts are and that it's government money, the need for transparency is pretty important, but it is unfortunate for those that win and want to be left the fuck alone.

Huh, I always wondered about that too, but Jeebus' answer makes total sense. Of course the Lottery would require a media release of that sort before allowing the jackpot to be claimed, It does suck though.

Also: those people rock. I'd rather get rid of it by spending it on things though, if it were me--I'd buy land in at least three places (ranch in Montana, plot in Alaska, maybe here in SD since its where my family lives), a new truck, electronic odds and ends, take care of friends and family like they said...

Then after THAT is done, and some savings put away, donate the remainder. But not until my land grab/shopping spree was done. Very Happy

Posted: Nov 05 2010 04:34 am

Undeath beat me to it, winning the lottery can fuck your shit up if you don't know how to handle it.

I don't gamble, but if I did win some sort of lottery I'd buy my mother and both sets of grandparents some sort of property and make sure they were taken care of comfortably in their old age, get a backup vehicle, and donate the rest to local charities etc etc. I already make enough to live, it's not rich and fancy, but it's comfortable for me, I don't see a reason to acquire any more "wealth".

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

The-Excel wrote:

It makes one wonder what they were doing playing lottery if they didn't plan on keeping their prizes.

This is what went through my head when I read this story.

My wife had found it earlier and I immediately asked, why play the lotto if you have no desire to win?

I guess I don't see the same dilema, but then again, age makes a huge difference. At a young age when you don't have fiscal security or fully paid off homes/cars, the world seems more daunting and money is more appealing. When you can't blow it on Jet Ski's, Sky Diving, and other crazy shit because you are too old to enjoy it, perhaps there isn't that much you would want?

Oh who the fuck am I kidding... three weeks ago I got to hang out in a 22 million dollar home built by two 75 year olds. It was frigg'n awesome.

If any of you get that much money and don't know what to do, at least go look at a rich person's home... you'll figure out where to put that cash very easily.

Posted: Nov 05 2010 02:09 pm

Yea, I heard about this. Fucking ridiculous.

Posted: Nov 05 2010 03:05 pm

Dr. Jeebus wrote:

The-Excel wrote:

But is it mandatory to report to the media when you win big? The IRS needs to know, obviously, but can't you ask the lottery officials to keep it private?

I know the first thing I would do when I win big would be to get as far away as possible.

You absolutely cannot. One of the rules for claiming a lottery jackpot (Or probably any exceptionally large lottery payout) is that you must grant the lottery rights to use your name and likeness. Considering how large the payouts are and that it's government money, the need for transparency is pretty important, but it is unfortunate for those that win and want to be left the fuck alone.

Well balls. Looks like I better start drawing up my escape plans now since I intend to keep playing to win.

Posted: Nov 07 2010 06:02 pm

The closest I've been to winning a jackpot was a 50" plasma flatscreen a few weeks ago.

I gave it to my dad because it's not like I paid for the tv, and this way he'll have an awesome Super Bowl Sunday.

If I won a big lottery jackpot, I'd buy some guitar gear, go on a trip, and I dunno, save the rest maybe.

Wizard Joined: Jun 12 2009 Posts: 4209

I'm shocked no one has said they will share their winnings with the rest of Sydlexia members. 100% serious, I'd do that. Maybe not exact shares, but enough to make everyone happy. You guys are really cool to me. ._.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

If I won a huge lottery, I'd put some cash into the Sydlexia community. It would have to be a big one though, like 5+ million. Smaller than that and I'd donate to the site directly, but probably not spread it around. To be clear, I doubt I'd hand out cash. I have always hated the idea of giving away money as a gift.

I would love to have a gathering though, and if everyone happened to get there, stay and eat on some of the winnings and have a new game console and games so that we could all play together, well, that would be frigg'n awesome.

Posted: Nov 08 2010 11:59 pm

The very first thing I would do is buy a copy of Photoshop. After that, it's a tossup.

Posted: Nov 09 2010 12:07 am

Sounds like a case of good-hearted people doing good things with the money they won. It's awful kind of 'em, and it's a damn shame people tried to descend on them like vultures.

Posted: Nov 12 2010 03:33 pm

For the record, I would also use winning to literally buy my band an opening slot with a favorite band, and everyone gets tickets (assuming we play near you)