Lotto Curse: The Aussies Whose Lives Were Destroyed After Winning Millions
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For some people, winning the lottery is the best thing that could ever happen to them. But for others, it's a curse that leads to financial ruin and even death.
According to research, 70% of lottery winners end up broke, and a third of them declare bankruptcy. So what goes wrong?
For many winners, the joy of winning turns into the temptation of spending their money on things like drugs, alcohol, and sex. They make poor investment decisions and their money quickly disappears.
If you're anything like us who are curious about the life (and misfortunes) of some Aussie Lotto winners after collecting their winnings, here are some real-life stories of unhappy endings after winning the lottery:
Winning the lottery also comes with big security risks as illustrated by the unfortunate stories of some winners. Credit: The Lott.
1. Sherif Girgis
This man blew his entire $30million lottery win in just a few years by making some terrible investments.
Mr Girgis, who was 23 at the time, was allegedly guided by real estate agent and City of Joondalup deputy mayor Russell Poliwka.
He bought a pub, a nightclub, and an expensive boat, all of which quickly lost value.
By 2012, he was down to just $5million.
He eventually sued his real estate agent for giving him bad advice. In 2014, he was awarded $2million of the $3.5 million he was demanding from Poliwka.
The court accepted Poliwka provided 'misleading or deceptive representation' and 'negligent advice'.
2. Trevor Cooper
Trevor Cooper went from being a humble supermarket worker to a multi-millionaire overnight when he won a huge lottery jackpot in 2012. However, just three years later, his marriage had crumbled and he was divorced.
Mr Cooper and his wife Sharie Mitchell went on a spending spree after his big win, buying 12 properties and a luxurious mansion. However, the marriage didn't last and the couple soon fell out.
Cooper's mother Shirley told the NZ Herald that her son didn't make a prenuptial agreement with his new wife, which may have contributed to the downfall of the marriage.
The tragic case of Graeme Thorne became the reason why Lotto winners are now able to request anonymity. Credit: Nine/TheDailyMail Australia.
3. Graeme Thorne
The tragic story of Graeme Thorne is a reminder of the dark side of winning the lottery. While most people dream of hitting the jackpot, the reality is that for some, it can lead to heartache, misfortune, and even death.
In 1960, Bazil Thorne won £100,000 in a Sydney Opera House lottery, the equivalent of $1.7million today. But his good fortune quickly turned to tragedy when his eight-year-old son, Graeme, was kidnapped for a £25,000 ransom.
The kidnapper, Stephen Bradley, a Hungarian immigrant and poker machine factory worker, lured Graeme into his car, then tied him up in the boot.
Bradley was said to be in a manic state when he opened the trunk and found the eight-year-old unconscious. He bashed the boy, then wrapped the body in a rug and dumped it in a vacant lot at Seaforth.
The suspect was later tracked down by police after they discovered the rugmaker and identified one of Bradley's dog's fur on it.
The autopsy suggested that Graeme probably died within 24 hours of being kidnapped, from asphyxiation, a skull fracture, or a combination of both.
Bradley was found guilty and was handed a life sentence in prison. He later died in Goulburn jail in 1968.
4. Maria Devrell
If you win the lottery in Australia, you can request anonymity, especially after Graeme's tragic case.
However, that anonymity did not help Maria Devrell, who was killed by a family friend after winning $5 million in OzLotto in 2011.
Devrell's friend and financial advisor, Peter Kelly, snapped after she lost money on some property investments.
He bashed her with a rubber mallet and strangled her in her own home.
Then, he spent the weekend with her husband, who had no idea his wife was dead.
It was said that Kelly was discovered by police while attempting suicide.
The financial advisor was found guilty of Devrell's murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Kelly later told police he was 'sick' of hearing Ms Devrell, who had a gambling addiction, "complaining and blaming everyone [else] for her problems".
Despite staying anonymous, some lotto winners still suffer tragic consequences by the hands of people they trust. Credit: The Lott.
5. Eugene Te Pairi, Garry Garlick and Brad Pretty
Who doesn't love a good old-fashioned story about friends falling out over money? This one is especially juicy because it involves a huge lottery win.
Eugene Te Pairi, Garry Garlick and Brad Pretty were mates in Melbourne who decided to pool their money and buy a lottery ticket. They got lucky and won $13 million in 2010.
But then the trouble started. The three friends couldn't agree on how to split the money and ended up in court. They blew $1.5 million in legal fees before finally settling out of court.
Mr Te Pairi and Mr Pretty had been friends for 20 years before the lottery win destroyed their friendship.
More unfortunate stories of lotto winners can be read here.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think it’s worth becoming a multi-millionaire overnight if it puts your security and your relationships at risk? Would you stay quiet if you won the lotto?
We also recommend checking out this video for more stories on how winning the lottery ruined people’s lives.
Credit: YouTube/Spencer Cornelia
According to research, 70% of lottery winners end up broke, and a third of them declare bankruptcy. So what goes wrong?
For many winners, the joy of winning turns into the temptation of spending their money on things like drugs, alcohol, and sex. They make poor investment decisions and their money quickly disappears.
If you're anything like us who are curious about the life (and misfortunes) of some Aussie Lotto winners after collecting their winnings, here are some real-life stories of unhappy endings after winning the lottery:
Winning the lottery also comes with big security risks as illustrated by the unfortunate stories of some winners. Credit: The Lott.
1. Sherif Girgis
This man blew his entire $30million lottery win in just a few years by making some terrible investments.
Mr Girgis, who was 23 at the time, was allegedly guided by real estate agent and City of Joondalup deputy mayor Russell Poliwka.
He bought a pub, a nightclub, and an expensive boat, all of which quickly lost value.
By 2012, he was down to just $5million.
He eventually sued his real estate agent for giving him bad advice. In 2014, he was awarded $2million of the $3.5 million he was demanding from Poliwka.
The court accepted Poliwka provided 'misleading or deceptive representation' and 'negligent advice'.
2. Trevor Cooper
Trevor Cooper went from being a humble supermarket worker to a multi-millionaire overnight when he won a huge lottery jackpot in 2012. However, just three years later, his marriage had crumbled and he was divorced.
Mr Cooper and his wife Sharie Mitchell went on a spending spree after his big win, buying 12 properties and a luxurious mansion. However, the marriage didn't last and the couple soon fell out.
Cooper's mother Shirley told the NZ Herald that her son didn't make a prenuptial agreement with his new wife, which may have contributed to the downfall of the marriage.
The tragic case of Graeme Thorne became the reason why Lotto winners are now able to request anonymity. Credit: Nine/TheDailyMail Australia.
3. Graeme Thorne
The tragic story of Graeme Thorne is a reminder of the dark side of winning the lottery. While most people dream of hitting the jackpot, the reality is that for some, it can lead to heartache, misfortune, and even death.
In 1960, Bazil Thorne won £100,000 in a Sydney Opera House lottery, the equivalent of $1.7million today. But his good fortune quickly turned to tragedy when his eight-year-old son, Graeme, was kidnapped for a £25,000 ransom.
The kidnapper, Stephen Bradley, a Hungarian immigrant and poker machine factory worker, lured Graeme into his car, then tied him up in the boot.
Bradley was said to be in a manic state when he opened the trunk and found the eight-year-old unconscious. He bashed the boy, then wrapped the body in a rug and dumped it in a vacant lot at Seaforth.
The suspect was later tracked down by police after they discovered the rugmaker and identified one of Bradley's dog's fur on it.
The autopsy suggested that Graeme probably died within 24 hours of being kidnapped, from asphyxiation, a skull fracture, or a combination of both.
Bradley was found guilty and was handed a life sentence in prison. He later died in Goulburn jail in 1968.
4. Maria Devrell
If you win the lottery in Australia, you can request anonymity, especially after Graeme's tragic case.
However, that anonymity did not help Maria Devrell, who was killed by a family friend after winning $5 million in OzLotto in 2011.
Devrell's friend and financial advisor, Peter Kelly, snapped after she lost money on some property investments.
He bashed her with a rubber mallet and strangled her in her own home.
Then, he spent the weekend with her husband, who had no idea his wife was dead.
It was said that Kelly was discovered by police while attempting suicide.
The financial advisor was found guilty of Devrell's murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Kelly later told police he was 'sick' of hearing Ms Devrell, who had a gambling addiction, "complaining and blaming everyone [else] for her problems".
Despite staying anonymous, some lotto winners still suffer tragic consequences by the hands of people they trust. Credit: The Lott.
5. Eugene Te Pairi, Garry Garlick and Brad Pretty
Who doesn't love a good old-fashioned story about friends falling out over money? This one is especially juicy because it involves a huge lottery win.
Eugene Te Pairi, Garry Garlick and Brad Pretty were mates in Melbourne who decided to pool their money and buy a lottery ticket. They got lucky and won $13 million in 2010.
But then the trouble started. The three friends couldn't agree on how to split the money and ended up in court. They blew $1.5 million in legal fees before finally settling out of court.
Mr Te Pairi and Mr Pretty had been friends for 20 years before the lottery win destroyed their friendship.
More unfortunate stories of lotto winners can be read here.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think it’s worth becoming a multi-millionaire overnight if it puts your security and your relationships at risk? Would you stay quiet if you won the lotto?
We also recommend checking out this video for more stories on how winning the lottery ruined people’s lives.
Credit: YouTube/Spencer Cornelia
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