Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be one of those lucky lotto millionaires? It must feel amazing to win hundreds and thousands of dollars by pure luck suddenly! It’s just as lucky as winning jackpots from casino games like poker or casino free spins!
Understandably, the odds are one of the millions, so it’s highly unlikely you can just win any day now.
For example, in Canada, the odds of winning Canada’s National Lotto is 1 in 13,983,816 (way higher compared to what casino blogs would say about other gambling games). In terms of gambling, land-based casinos in Canada would have about an 88% payout for every dollar, though online gambling casinos have a higher chance, about 95-97%!
That said, an Ontario couple got to win the $70 million jackpot just recently, so there is still a possibility, and you may have a chance of having your own lottery (or casino jackpot) millionaire story!
While you wait to win that millionaire lottery, let’s take a look at the beautiful and inspiring stories of people who did live the dream of becoming an instant millionaire.
- Sheelah Ryan
Sheelah Ryan won the Florida State Lottery, a grand $52 million. Unfortunately, she only had six years left to enjoy what she won before succumbing to cancer, though she made sure to use it right – by giving it away.
She created The Ryan Foundation, a charitable group that focused on helping organizations provide aid for all underprivileged individuals.
Even after her death, her foundation outlasted her. It continued to give grants to organizations building low-cost housing, aiding senior citizens, along helping children who need operations their families couldn’t afford.
Despite it not ending the way we wished it should have, good on Sheelah for giving back to those who need it most.
2. Tom Crist
Tom Crist won $40 million from a lottery in Canada, but he didn’t leave his job or travel worldwide. Instead, he donated all of his winnings to fight a disease that killed his wife two years before winning.
Tom had already retired, had savings, and all his adult children were doing great by then. Rather than keeping the winnings, the lump sum was donated to a cancer charity in Calgary, which had a lot of support from his kids. Hopefully, the handsome donation will help find a cure or vaccinations to help others who suffer from the big C.
3. The Kuteys
John and Linda Kuteys won $19 million from their office lottery pool; they wanted to pay respect to their parents by giving back to their community. When they asked what they could do to help in the Green Island village hall, it was to renovate the local park and replace the old wading pool with a more modern spray park.
The Kuteys donated enough for new equipment and the funds required to install it. That way, children had a beautiful place to cool off during the hot summer season.
After that, the couple left their jobs and moved to a grand house in Florida.
4. Pearlie Mae Smith
It’s incredible how the lottery changes people, sometimes for the bad. However, Pearlie Mae Smith’s story is a great one!
She raised seven children to know the importance of giving back to the community, volunteering to work in community gardens and soup kitchens. When they won $429 million from the Powerball jackpot, the first thing they thought of was to continue helping!
While this jackpot was split evenly among the eight of them, not everyone quit their jobs. Instead, some continued to work in helping professions, even funding programs to help the community further!
Now, the Smith Family Foundation is up and running, providing funds to grassroots organizations working to improve lives in Trenton, New Jersey, which is their hometown. The priorities are around education, supporting youth and families, alongside developing the neighborhood around Trenton.
5. Les Robins
Les Robins was a high school teacher who won a whopping $111 million from the Powerball jackpot. When he received his winnings, his good heart chose to use his funds to create a camp, bringing joy to all the kids.
This camp, Camp Winnegator, sits on 226 acres, which he invested with the lottery money. It’s been operating for more than ten years now, providing an affordable camp where children can spend their summer, complete with arts and crafts, swimming, horseback rides, and more!
Robins always thought of how kids today aren’t growing up the way he used to back in the day, so the aim was to encourage kids to explore outdoors and disconnect from electronics. That way, kids today get to be one with nature while making friends in real life. How sweet!
You can learn more about the lottery and casino games from the author, Kevin N. Cochran!
Wrapping It Up
Did any of these stories pump you up about winning the lottery? Try to make a bet on your lucky numbers to see if they win you the jackpot soon! Good luck!