Lottery

Geez money is an ugly business.

Today’s example: Mirlande Wilson, the 37 year-old Haitian immigrant who claims she will not be sharing her winnings of the $US100 million lottery, despite having participated in a syndicate with her McDonalds colleagues.

The mother of seven told the New York Post that the winning ticket was purchased on a separate day and had nothing to do with the syndicate. But that’s not how her co-workers remember it.

Continue reading "Who wants to be a millionaire? Everyone!" »

Michael Carroll, UK binman, won $15 million and blew it all in eight years on drugs, cars and women. He’s now scraping by as a tradie.

His is a sad tale, and reading it made me think sanctimonious thoughts about how we need to support people through such drastic life changes, particularly those with vulnerabilities like alcoholism.

But mostly I just thought: Shit yeah! I’d love to squander stacks of cash in one big disgusting binge. I’d like to roll around naked in piles of dirty, stinking cash, bathe in French champagne, live a rockstar lifestyle.

Continue reading "$15 million buys a lot of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll" »

Somewhere in Sydney a punter is $30 million richer and doesn’t yet know.  NSW Lotteries is trying hard to find them. They’ve publicised it in the media and spoken discreetly to the agent who sold the ticket.  They’re keen to break the good news to their very lucky customer, and sincere and thorough in their efforts to do it.

This time next week the Lotteries will be owned by a private corporation which has also bought itself the right to keep that prize if they can’t find the person.

Leaving aside that this appears to be against the law that made the sell-off of Lotteries possible, how hard would you try to find a winner if you could pocket the money yourself if you can’t find them?  How hard would you make it to claim a prize?

Continue reading "Corporations don’t need to win the big one" »