Lottery Winner laments how it changed his life

[Boges]

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1174512--lottery-winner-craig-henshaw-paid-a-big-price-for-his-millions?bn=1

But the thrill of the millions evaporated quickly. Over the next few weeks his world became a whirlwind of broken friendships and financial scams.

Henshaw couldn’t even return to his cozy loft apartment after collecting his cheque. He spent the first few weeks living in a hotel, mainly in an attempt to duck the media and stalkers.

“Six hours after I won, some scam artist had already managed to get my credit card number. The charities started hammering me immediately,” Henshaw says, smacking his fist into his hand.

“My email inbox was full, and my phone was flooded with text messages. People were asking me to pay off student loans. I got 365 texts in the first day.”

Eight months after his windfall, Henshaw is in a reflective mood as we sit in a pub for an interview. Five years ago, I was a student in his classroom at Markville Secondary School in Markham, where he taught woodshop and technology.

Teaching was his passion, and still is. But as odd as it sounds, the money did get in the way.

In the aftermath of his lottery win, what hurt most, he says, was the reaction from his colleagues. Teachers whom Henshaw considered friends were suddenly badgering him to pay off their credit-card bills. His school board email was completely flooded.

Cry me a freakin' river! Everyone knows the potential pitfalls of winning the lottery. If he didn't think that would happen why did he buy the ticket?

This guy also had to quit his job. The question is what kind of person thinks they can go back to work and expect people to treat them normally?

Who wouldn't love to have the problems this guy has?

[GostHacked]

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1174512--lottery-winner-craig-henshaw-paid-a-big-price-for-his-millions?bn=1

Cry me a freakin' river! Everyone knows the potential pitfalls of winning the lottery. If he didn't think that would happen why did he buy the ticket?

It's like you are punishing him for being the lucky one. Seems like everyone else did the same thing. If he had to run/hide from friends and family, then they were not really his friends..

This guy also had to quit his job. The question is what kind of person thinks they can go back to work and expect people to treat them normally?

Who wouldn't love to have the problems this guy has?

Actually no. When someone wins, other people tend to change their views of the person who won. Simple jealousy.

[Boges]

It's like you are punishing him for being the lucky one. Seems like everyone else did the same thing. If he had to run/hide from friends and family, then they were not really his friends..

Actually no. When someone wins, other people tend to change their views of the person who won. Simple jealousy.

Sure, no surprise people are like that. I wouldn't expect to go back to my normal life after winning that much money.

But who bitches about it?

Who here wouldn't switch their lot in life for this guy's?

Edited May 8, 2012 by Boges

[Topaz]

When you go from poor to mega rich, you don't have the money problems of not having enough money, you have problems, so some, of having too much and so, the old problems go and one has all new set of financial problems. Just look how the rich live, behind gated property and bodyguards. For me, the up side to this is, I could help people who really need the help and can't get it from governments, and right now there many in need. I think the lotteries are too big for one person, but that what sells the tickets and many of these winners will probably die poor.

[Guest American Woman]

When I win millions, I'm going to claim it anonymously. Seriously. Why did this guy go public with his win? At any rate, if he finds the money such a burden to live with, there's a simple solution - give it all to charity and let the public know that's what he did. Problem solved.

[Boges]

When I win millions, I'm going to claim it anonymously. Seriously. Why did this guy go public with his win? At any rate, if he finds the money such a burden to live with, there's a simple solution - give it all to charity and let the public know that's what he did. Problem solved.

The OLG makes all big winners name get published in the paper.

If I was him I would have probably moved.

[Guest American Woman]

The OLG makes all big winners name get published in the paper.

That explains it then. I wonder why they make them go public with the win?

If I was him I would have probably moved.

I wouldn't want to move. I enjoy living near family and friends and I love where I live, so if money took that away from me, it wouldn't be worth it. But that's one helluva lot of money, so if I were him, I would have kept what I felt I needed and given the rest away - to family and friends and publicly given the bulk to charities - and ignored all of the other requests for money with a clear conscience. People would soon forget once they knew he didn't have the money to give away any more, and life would resume pleasantly - and richer.

[fellowtraveller]

I have a friend who won $3million about 8 years ago.

It didn't change him but like this guy it changed a bunch of other people. He was plagued by shysters, golddiggers and particularly by 'friends' harassing him for money. He keeps a lower profile now than he did when he was not well off, and he pretty much was obliged to move across the country.

I know he would rather be rich than not rich, but it was a mixed blessing.

[Black Dog]

Sure, no surprise people are like that. I wouldn't expect to go back to my normal life after winning that much money.

But who bitches about it?

Who here wouldn't switch their lot in life for this guy's?

I don't think the guy is looking for sympathy or anything. It's just an interesting story. I mean, if it were me, I'd be prepared for the odd family member coming with their hand out, but stuff like this:

Teachers whom Henshaw considered friends were suddenly badgering him to pay off their credit-card bills.

is beyond the pale. I mean, who does that?

[Guest Peeves]

I have a thick skin and an even thicker charitable heart. Give me that money and stand back. I'd hire a good lawyer and a body guard, a secretary and a let it be known that I had a hit man on speed dial.

[Bonam]

Just say no to all the beggars. Email and phone calls can be filtered easily. And after winning millions, you can hire someone to go through all the mail you get it there's too much to go through yourself.

As for friends, you'll know who your real friends are real quick. There's those that are happy for you and treat you like they always did, and there'll be those that are just after the money. Let's you filter out the good from the bad, so it's an advantage if anything.

[Guest American Woman]

I have a thick skin and an even thicker charitable heart. Give me that money and stand back. I'd hire a good lawyer and a body guard, a secretary and a let it be known that I had a hit man on speed dial.

Sounds like a great life.

As for friends, you'll know who your real friends are real quick. There's those that are happy for you and treat you like they always did, and there'll be those that are just after the money. Let's you filter out the good from the bad, so it's an advantage if anything.

I honestly think a big part of the joy of winning that kind of money would be the fun of being able to give it away, ie: help people who need it and/or who I care about; so insofar as finding out who your real friends are, I think friends would find out just how good a friend you are, too. I wouldn't expect my good friends to just sit back and be happy for me as I didn't share the wealth with people I consider good friends. I think it would be a pretty crappy friend who would expect his/her friends to just be happy for them as they enjoyed the fruits of a $21 million lottery win without thinking about, caring about, helping them.

Edited May 8, 2012 by American Woman

[Michael Hardner]

I honestly think a big part of the joy of winning that kind of money would be the fun of being able to give it away, ie: help people who need it and/or who I care about;

That's nice.

I would like to set up a non-profit to give ambitious kids a chance to do real work, socialize and enjoy themselves... that would be rewarding for me.

[Bonam]

I honestly think a big part of the joy of winning that kind of money would be the fun of being able to give it away, ie: help people who need it and/or who I care about; so insofar as finding out who your real friends are, I think friends would find out just how good a friend you are, too. I wouldn't expect my good friends to just sit back and be happy for me as I didn't share the wealth with people I consider good friends. I think it would be a pretty crappy friend who would expect his/her friends to just be happy for them as they enjoyed the fruits of a $21 million lottery win without thinking about, caring about, helping them.

Do friends give money away to each other when they get a raise, a higher paying job, when their stock investments go up? No, not really. In my circle of friends, at least, everyone is financially independent, and there is no implication or expectation that one will share their financial success or good fortune. Of course, if someone is doing well, they may do nice things for their friends like maybe take them out to some nice dinners, arrange some cool trips, maybe get them some more expensive gifts for their birthday or Christmas or whatever, etc. But just straight up giving cash out? No one wants that.

[Guest American Woman]

Do friends give money away to each other when they get a raise, a higher paying job, when their stock investments go up? No, not really.

Are you comparing a multi-million dollar lottery win to those situations? They aren't comparable at all. A raise and a higher paying job are earned, through hours, often years, of hard work - not dumb luck; and stock investments generally require some 'homework' to gain knowledge about how to invest - and risk. Furthermore, none of the things generally net a 21+ million dollar gain overnight.

In my circle of friends, at least, everyone is financially independent, and there is no implication or expectation that one will share their financial success or good fortune. Of course, if someone is doing well, they may do nice things for their friends like maybe take them out to some nice dinners, arrange some cool trips, maybe get them some more expensive gifts for their birthday or Christmas or whatever, etc. But just straight up giving cash out? No one wants that.

Really? No one wants that? You're so sure of that? Thing is, even if that is true among your group of friends (and I highly doubt it), if cash would mean more than a dinner or a trip, which wouldn't help them if they really needed financial help, really, what's the difference? It's money spent/given to them either way. Remember, we're talking about a multi-million dollar win, which doesn't even begin to compare to the "doing well" you speak of. If the best I would do under such a windfall is to treat my friends to a dinner out or a more expensive Christmas gift, I think that would make me a pretty crappy, selfish, self-centered friend. Good friends help friends when they need it; they do what they can for each other.

As I said, it's twofold - the winner would find out who his friends are and the the friends would find out how good a friend the multi-million dollar lottery winner is.

Edited May 8, 2012 by American Woman

[jefferiah]

Who wouldn't love to have the problems this guy has?

How many times have you heard someone say,

"If I had his money, I'd do things my way."

But little they know that it's so hard to find.

One rich man in ten with a satisfied mind.

For money can't buy back your youth when you're old,

nor a friend when you're lonely, nor a heart thats grown cold,

the wealthiest person is a pauper at times

compared to the man with a satisfied mind.

.........

Also there was that guy on Lost.

Edited May 8, 2012 by jefferiah

[Bonam]

Good friends help friends when they need it; they do what they can for each other.

I agree, they help each other by providing their time, support, etc. But from my understanding of social expectations and etiquette, giving each other large sums of money is not a usual component of friendship. I would never expect a friend to give me large amounts of cash, even if that friend was a millionaire (of which I know several), whether by luck or hard work. And I would certainly never ask (unless it was a situation in which someone's life depended on it).

In fact, giving large sums of money is often not even a component of familial relationships. Many family members choose to loan money to their relatives rather than simply gifting it.

Edited May 8, 2012 by Bonam

[Guest American Woman]

I agree, they help each other by providing their time, support, etc.

So you're ok with giving time, but not money?? I don't get that at all.

But from my understanding of social expectations and etiquette, giving each other large sums of money is not a usual component of friendship.

So you and your good friends concern yourselves with social expectations and etiquette? Seriously? I would say good friends are those who you don't have to be concerned with such things.

I would never expect a friend to give me large amounts of cash, even if that friend was a millionaire (of which I know several),

"Knowing" and being "good friends" are two very different things, and I'm guessing several of your good friends don't have 21 million in cash burning a hole in their pocket.

And I would certainly never ask (unless it was a situation in which someone's life depended on it).

That's you. Doesn't mean it's wrong if someone else, who has always been there for their friend, does ask. I find it odd that you would think there's nothing wrong with asking people to give of their (valuable) time, but asking for monetary help after a multi-million dollar win would be taboo. To me a favor is a favor, if one is able to do it, they do it because they care. I'm not saying support them for life - but I would definitely give my good friends a lump sum of money under the circumstances.

In fact, giving large sums of money is often not even a component of familial relationships. Many family members choose to loan money to their relatives rather than simply gifting it.

And very often family members "gift" the money, too; especially people with over 21 million dollars in the bank.

Edited May 8, 2012 by American Woman

[jefferiah]

So you're ok with giving time, but not money?? I don't get that at all.

So you and your good friends concern yourselves with social expectations and etiquette? Seriously? I would say good friends are those who you don't have to be concerned with such things.

There used to be a Ruffles commercial with an Alaskan native guy sitting there in the isolated tundra with a bag of Ruffles. The one other guy in this remote terrain asks him for a chip, and he looks around and says, "If I give one to you, I have to give one to everybody else."

Edited May 8, 2012 by jefferiah

[Peter F]

Who here wouldn't switch their lot in life for this guy's?

Me.

[bleeding heart]

That explains it then. I wonder why they make them go public with the win?

It's advertising for the lottery.

[guyser]

It's advertising for the lottery.

Nope.

Integrity of the process.Public trust. No one knows who won, then plenty will suspect that someone connected won.

Now that of course does not jive with the lottery retailers scam that ran for many years , but there you go.

There are still people who think its a rigged game, that only Ontarians win...etc etc.

Edited May 28, 2012 by guyser

[bleeding heart]

Nope.

Integrity of the process.Public trust. No one knows who won, then plenty will suspect that someone connected won.

Now that of course does not jive with the lottery retailers scam that ran for many years , but there you go.

There are still people who think its a rigged game, that only Ontarians win...etc etc.

Sure, that's an excellent point.

But I also suspect--hell, I know--that it's for marketing purposes as well: "Here's a winner! Buy your tickets!" It takes the abstract out of winning.

Edited May 29, 2012 by bleeding heart

[guyser]

Sure, that's an excellent point.

But I also suspect--hell, I know--that it's for marketing purposes as well: "Here's a winner! Buy your tickets!" It takes the abstract out of winning.

Sorry, you are correct and I should not have said 'nope' .

I was thinking that advertising was your prime reason .

In any event, adverts come free w the mandatory publishing of the winners name photo and general living area.

[Canuckistani]

How many times have you heard someone say,

"If I had his money, I'd do things my way."

But little they know that it's so hard to find.

One rich man in ten with a satisfied mind.

For money can't buy back your youth when you're old,

nor a friend when you're lonely, nor a heart thats grown cold,

the wealthiest person is a pauper at times

compared to the man with a satisfied mind.

Poor people also get old, and it's a lot harder on them. They also lose friends etc.

"I've been rich and I've bee poor, and rich is better." Attributed to various people, including Sophie Tucker.