Gentlemen Start Your Engines and May the Best Woman Win Again
Everybody needs coin to survive. It's a fact nosotros may not like, but it'south even so a fact. Another inescapable truth is that most of united states of america could use more than money for the things we need equally well as the things we just want. That probably makes the promise of winning the lottery sound like a dream come up truthful, but the reality is much more complicated than that.
Consider this cautionary tale of a woman in desperate need who won an unbelievable corporeality of money. The choices and mistakes she fabricated after winning ultimately resulted in losing information technology all. Her story reminds us all to never forget that coin doesn't purchase happiness.
Meet Marie Holmes
When she was 26, Marie Holmes was living a hard life in North Carolina. She was a hard-working, unmarried mother of iv with two depression-paying jobs. On height of this, one of her children had but been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Because of her child's special needs, Marie was forced to quit both of her jobs to care for him full time. Obviously, the $188 million lottery windfall seemed like a Godsend when Marie won, just unfortunately, she fabricated a serial of poor decisions that resulted in her losing information technology all.
Marie's Original Plans
Marie fabricated some promising comments almost what she planned to do with the lottery money — $127 one thousand thousand after she chose to get information technology in a lump sum. "Offset I'chiliad going to pay my tithes, considering I wouldn't accept none of information technology if it weren't for God."
"Later that, I'one thousand going to prepare accounts for my kids…I'm going to buy a firm for me and my kids, then make sure my family is all good." Marie besides told WGN-TV, "I don't have to worry about the give-and-take 'struggle' no more than and neither exercise [my children]."
The Waiting Game
Although most lottery winnings are not life irresolute, lottery jackpots are huge, and there are rules for claiming those winnings. If a person wins less than $599, the establishment that sold them the ticket pays them their winnings. Even so, at that place is a lengthy process involved in claiming large lottery winnings.
The ticket has to be verified by a scanning machine. Side by side, there is a waiting period for the money to be awarded, and the winner must fill out some identification paperwork. Terminal, the winner must decide if they desire all the money in a lump sum or accept it dispersed in installments for xxx years (on average).
Choices, Choices
One of the more difficult choices when a person wins millions of dollars in a lottery is whether to become the coin in a lump sum or in installments. The dilemma occurs because at that place is a big punishment for getting all the coin faster in a lump sum.
Marie had the choice of collecting the entire $188 million over 30 years or forfeiting $61 million and collecting the remaining $127 million much sooner. Fiscal experts normally recommend taking the lump sum and investing the coin. That allows you the opportunity to brand money on your winnings instead of the country. Marie chose the lump sum.
Uncle Sam'due south Cut
Many people don't know how much taxes people have to pay out of lottery winnings in the U.Southward., and then nosotros'll break information technology down for you. Although the entire tax amount wasn't reported in Marie Holmes' instance, she definitely paid millions to the government.
In the U.Southward., lottery winnings are considered income past the IRS, on both the state and federal levels. Therefore, North Carolina would have taken 5.8% of Marie'due south $127 meg, and the Federal Regime would have taken anywhere from 25% to 39.vi%, depending on taxation bracket and other factors. Most people pay the highest rate.
Setting an Example
When Marie won the lottery, she had plans that all sounded very honorable. She said she would donate get-go to her church building then motion out of her mobile abode and buy a new firm for her children. She also planned to gear up up higher funds for them.
Marie told NBC, "All the struggle that I ever went through, it was all for [my children]. I want them to understand that money doesn't change you lot, but it can help you." The public barbarous in love with Marie after hearing about her history of poverty and hard knocks earlier she became wealthy.
Could She Handle Information technology?
The reputation that Marie had in her hometown and elsewhere was that of a difficult-working, unmarried mother who, co-ordinate to her family and friends, "understood the value of a dollar." At i point, she had ii jobs — Walmart and McDonald'due south — to support her 4 children. Therefore, nobody expected her to make poor decisions about where the money would go.
Of class, no i took into business relationship that Marie was inexperienced and uninformed about how to handle large amounts of money. When she started deciding how to spend the lottery money, the public viewed her as immature and irresponsible.
Fiscal Advisor, Please?
When people who aren't wealthy win a lot of money, it'south highly recommended that they seek professional assist near how to manage the coin, including what Not to do with it. The average American has absolutely no feel handling large amounts of coin.
Financial advisors warn that fifty-fifty titanic amounts of money tin disappear speedily if information technology isn't invested wisely. In the case of Marie Holmes, it seemed like her heart was in the right place and she was doing what she thought was correct, just some expert communication definitely would take helped her out.
The Bad Judgment Begins
The first thing dubbed a poor judgment telephone call by the public was the $15,000 Rolex that Marie bought her fellow, Lamar "Hot Sauce" McDow. The watch was more jewelry than a timepiece and was reportedly "dripping with diamonds."
That same boyfriend ultimately cost Marie much more than. The Port Metropolis Daily reported Lamar was a gang member and a drug dealer after he was arrested and charged with "conspiracy to traffic in opium or heroin" in April 2016. He continued to get arrested throughout their human relationship, and Marie spent millions on his bail and defense.
The Saga Continues
Before beingness sent to jail on drug charges in 2014, Lamar McDow lived with Marie Holmes and her children in her trailer. When he was released from jail after serving his sentence, he lived in the $350,000 home that she had purchased after winning the lottery.
Co-ordinate to the Daily Postal service, of the original amount of $188 million, Marie was left with virtually $88 meg after deciding to take her winnings in a lump sum and paying taxes. This is still a very big amount of money, but a loss of $100 million is obviously very significant.
Leeches Coming Out of the Woodwork
Predictably, lots of people immediately started asking Marie and her boyfriend for coin afterwards they heard she won the lottery. The people included friends, family unit members and numerous others, all requesting various amounts of coin for all kinds of reasons. Unfortunately, this experience is common for lottery winners.
Marie and Lamar were constantly harassed for money handouts, and it became very stressful for them. Marie was quoted every bit saying, "When money comes, there are more bug," according to reports.
Racial Intolerance in Their New Home
Another problem that plagued Marie and her family unit in their new life in their new home was harassment from neighbors due to racial prejudice. The neighborhood that Marie moved into with her family was an intolerant, primarily white community, and much to the family's chagrin, the residents were non interested in changing.
According to Lamar, "I neighbor ready a camera to record everything we were doing. If I was driving down the road and going at the speed limit, they would wave at me for going likewise fast. They did not want us at that place. They were prejudiced." Lamar reported these disturbing events to the Daily Mail.
The Church Donation
Marie stayed true to her word, which was reported in a press release as "The beginning thing she promised was to tithe — give a 10th of her winnings to charity." Marie donated a total of $700,000 to her hometown church building, Pleasant Colina Missionary Baptist Church, located in Shallotte, NC.
The church reportedly used the money for much-needed renovations. Marie told the printing the church was an important part of her life and her organized religion and that she had been attention that item church since she was a kid.
Pastor Disaster
Unfortunately, a unlike pastor made contact with Marie and her family with an evil ulterior motive. Pastor Kevin Matthews claimed that "God led him to them," and although they certainly regretted information technology after, Marie and her family believed him and immune him into their lives and their home.
Soon after meeting Marie, Pastor Matthews asked her for $1.five one thousand thousand so he could build a retreat. According to him, Marie verbally agreed to fund the project, although there is no prove to support that. He then went ahead and began construction on the retreat using his own coin. Marie did non contribute.
Wicked Intentions
Citing a verbal understanding in which Marie allegedly promised to donate $1.5 million for his retreat, Pastor Kevin Matthews appear publicly that he was suing Marie Holmes for $10 million. The amount of money named in the conform was baffling, considering the amount he was allegedly promised was much less.
The public believed Pastor Matthews was being ungrateful and greedy. His behavior seemed unbecoming of a Christian leader to most people of organized religion. The justification for his lawsuit was that he had a verbal agreement with Marie for a money donation and compensation for "emotional distress."
Public Outrage
As soon as the media defenseless air current of the lawsuit, they uncovered that Matthews did not appear to be affiliated with any church building. This led to a astringent, angry public backlash. People shamed Matthews for being a fraud and trying to scam a squeamish lady out of her rightful winnings.
One YouTuber, "Donald the Repentless," was so mad near this that he put out videos entitled, "F*** You Pastor Kevin Matthews." Public opinion was clear that this so-called "pastor" was nothing but a money-grubbing scam artist preying on a nice lady to get his easily on a lot of undeserved money.
To Top It Off: Adultery
In more than bad news for Marie and her children, the media reported that her ex-convict beau was beingness unfaithful. Unfortunately, information technology was as well reported that she herself paid Lamar's mistresses hush money to get away instead of getting rid of him.
In more reputation damaging news, a video surfaced on Facebook of a woman who claimed that in addition to Lamar cheating on Marie, he was also stealing money from her to pay prostitutes for "sexual favors." Unfortunately, the video went viral, every bit juicy gossip often does.
Powering Through
Instead of withering under the scrutiny of the media and the public, Marie decided to take desperate measures to improve her circumstances. She gathered her strength and took matters into her own easily by turning to a well-known life double-decker to get some communication about how to meliorate her life.
Marie contacted Iyanla Vanzant, who has her ain show advising people most their relationships on the Oprah Network. Vanzant is a renowned author and motivational speaker with a huge following due to her reputation for irresolute people's lives for the better.
The Truth Revealed
In another surprising twist, when Marie went on the Iyanla: Fix My Life talk testify, her mother, Fontella, came out and revealed that the numbers she chose for the winning lottery ticket were really hers and that they had a very special significant.
"I kept dreaming nearly your brother that nosotros lost. His altogether, he was the third child, he'd have been 25 that year. Those were the numbers." When Marie asked her mother why she didn't claim the money for herself, Fontella replied, "I just wanted you to better yourself for the babies."
The Scoop on Lamar McDow
Lamar "Hot Sauce" McDow was fortunate enough to stay in Marie'due south skilful graces long enough to fight jail iii times, to the tune of millions in bail and legal fees. The first fourth dimension Marie bailed him out, it price her $3 1000000 in bond money.
Earlier a yr had passed, Lamar was arrested once again, and Marie bailed him out again for $6 one thousand thousand. The tertiary time Marie bailed out Lamar, it was $12 million. You lot would retrieve she would accept been repulsed by his criminal behavior, but she just kept spending the coin, resulting in widespread criticism.
Misery Loves Company
Marie was warned past many people that if she continued her relationship with Lamar, she could terminate up with criminal charges herself. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened. One dark, Lamar violated his parole curfew. When the police came, they discovered marijuana in the house.
Tragically, Marie was arrested for possession in front of her children. Marijuana remains illegal in Due north Carolina, but there is a meaning racial bias about who is criminalized for information technology, according to the ACLU. The aforementioned number of white people as black people employ marijuana, but blacks are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested.
The Beau Defence
Lamar eventually got angry at the people criticizing Marie for spending her money bailing him out of jail, and he lashed out. To the Daily Post, he asserted, "Nosotros are a couple, and I am the father of her youngest child. This is what people do for each other."
Lamar went on to say, "She has the coin, and she can do what she wants with it. If I had that money, and so I would do the aforementioned for her. People are just jealous because of how much she won, and people want to run across me locked in jail."
The Wolf Pit
During the taping of the Iyanla evidence, the bad headlines just kept rolling in. Marie'southward family and even onetime friends started accusing her of actually stealing the lottery ticket from her mother, despite Fontella freely admitting on telly that she had given the ticket to Marie.
To add to the stress and drama, Lamar went to jail at this time on a vii-year sentence for charges related to possessing and selling heroin. True to grade, Marie persisted in pushing forrard and moving on with her life, demonstrating her strength and resilience.
A Goal Met
Despite poor gustatory modality in partners, Marie did make some adept decisions about what to practice with some of her money. She ended up giving $9.vii million to various charities. Role of that money went to the brand-new Marie Holmes Foundation, which was established to provide for children in need.
Marie's foundation provides necessities for underprivileged children. It too holds community events, which are how some children get their school supplies and their Christmas presents. The foundation helps struggling young mothers like Marie was before she won the lottery.
Exercise Christians Gamble?
Marie was raised a devout Cosmic, and she leans heavily on her Christian faith. Some people criticized her for playing the lottery at all, because it tends to be frowned upon by the church. People have mixed opinions when it comes to Christians gambling.
One pastor said this to the Christian Post: "You tin't be against the lottery, but your youth department is doing a RAFFLE! Same affair, pastor. Same THING!" The stigma remains nigh gambling being an irresponsible money-waster. Others argue that in that location is zilch specific said about gambling in the Bible, and so it's okay when information technology's non abused.
The Root of All Evil
Other religious people, such as one pastor cited in the Christian Mail, pointed out that the Bible says that money is where evil originated. He scolded Marie for buying the lottery ticket and went on to say, "First, nosotros must guard against our love of money."
It should be noted that when the Bible does mention "casting lots," information technology's non usually talking about material gain, only about God. In an example of this, Proverbs sixteen:33 states, "The lot is cast into the lap, only its every decision is from the Lord."
Some Friendly Advice
We recommend that others read the unfortunate story of Marie Holmes in case they find themselves in her shoes. It's not at all easy to go from rags to riches, and similar versions of her story take happened to others.
Information technology's important to empathise tax laws for the long term, the rules of the lottery and investment options if you ever find yourself in the position of receiving a big windfall of money. Be sure to hire a good professional financial expert to help yous decide how to manage your money to avoid reckless decisions.
A Cautionary Tale
If you ever happen to detect yourself in the unlikely position of winning the lottery some things to watch out for include government laws, lottery rules, state and federal taxes and your previous unpaid debts. These things tin can assist you lot calculate your expendable income.
Information technology may be unwise in the initial excitement to promise lots of charitable giving, like Marie did, without first doing the math to come across what your take-dwelling corporeality really is. Multiple millions of dollars may seem like an enormous amount, only as Marie discovered, it's easy to burn through it quickly if y'all are uninformed.
Further Drama
Some think that Marie had a run of terrible luck after she won the lottery, while others recall she brought her woes upon herself with poor decision-making. A few retrieve the truth lies somewhere in the middle of those 2 black-and-white judgments.
Aside from spending millions on her young man — who eventually concluded upwards in federal prison house anyway — Marie also made some other questionable decisions after winning the lotto, such every bit ownership her boyfriend a business organisation of his ain and buying her mother a house. She besides had harassment charges filed against her for allegedly calling a adult female repeatedly to threaten her.
The Bottom Line
The catastrophe of this story is mostly grim, although Marie Holmes did do some positive things with a lasting affect before the final of her money was gone. She didn't seem to realize that she would be under a microscope with the media and the public.
Here are a couple more than tips, just in case you e'er hitting it large: Don't trust anyone asking for money, even if they seem to accept a very respectable social condition (like the pastor who sued Marie Holmes). Remember the adept that money tin do, but don't forget the bad. No matter what, don't make bold promises immediately after winning.
Source: https://www.reference.com/business-finance/what-not-to-do-if-you-win-lottery?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740005%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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