He won one of the largest jackpots ever, but his millions didn’t shield him from a number of devastating personal tragedies.
It’s the kind of big money win most of us can only dream about.
But for one US lottery winner, scooping a record-breaking jackpot was followed by a series of heartbreaking family deaths, addiction and divorce.
On Christmas night in 2002, Andrew ‘Jack’ Whittaker Jr won a staggering $US315 million (which at that time was worth around $A550 million) in the US Powerball. But later he said he wished he had torn up the ticket.
Whittaker, who died aged 72 in 2020, became an instant celebrity when he claimed what was then the largest US lottery jackpot won by a single ticket.
The cowboy-hat wearing businessman opted for the lump-sum payment of $US113.4 million (at that time worth around $A200 million) after taxes, and immediately flew to New York with his family in a private jet to appear on network TV morning shows.
Personal tragedy
Whittaker gave a portion of his winnings to various charities, set up his own charitable foundation – and even drove a Lamborghini through his neighbourhood throwing cash out of the window.
But in the years that followed his win, Whittaker suffered devastating personal tragedies.
First, he split from his wife.
Then Jesse Tribble, the 18-year-old friend of his granddaughter Brandi Bragg, was found dead from a drug overdose at his home in 2004.
Three months later, Brandi, 17, who was addicted to drugs, also died.
Andrew Jackson "Jack'' Whittaker Jr., his wife Jewell, right, and their granddaughter Brandi Bragg
Brandi Bragg was found dead in a van, hidden by a boyfriend who panicked when he found her dead.
An autopsy did not pinpoint a cause of death, and nobody was charged with any crime.
Daughter’s death
Whittaker’s daughter, Ginger Whittaker Bragg, then died in 2009, aged 42, after battling for years with cancer.
In 2016, Whittaker lost his Virginia home to a fire.
He also struggled with drinking and gambling and his home and car were repeatedly burglarised.
And at a strip club, thieves broke into his Lincoln Navigator and stole a briefcase stuffed with $US245,000 and three $US100,000 cashiers’ cheques.
That time, at least, he caught a break – the briefcase was later found, with the money still inside.
DUI arrests
Whittaker – who had already been a self-made millionaire before his lottery win – was charged twice with driving while under the influence and sued repeatedly, once by three female casino employees who accused him of assault.
“I’m only going to be remembered as the lunatic who won the lottery,” Whittaker said.
“I’m not proud of that. I wanted to be remembered as someone who helped a lot of people.”
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