9 generous lottery winners who broke the mold by giving away their massive winnings
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Oregon residents Bob Chaney, wife Frances, daughter Carolyn West and son-in-law Steve won the $340 million Powerball in 2005. Photo: Press Association
For all the stories of problems that big-money lottery winners seem to experience, the tide is turning. More winners are showing they have a tighter control over where their wins go.
And a number are rejecting the 'spend large' philosophy of the past. But it started a while back, so here's how 9 previous winners have spent their money, according to Time writer Tim Newcomb. It may surprise you:
Allen and Violet Large of Nova Scotia, Canada took their $11.2 million winning check and handed it all away, mainly to hospitals.
Religion and gambling don’t often pair up, but an anonymous donor gave a $3 million New York state ticket to True North Community Church in Port Jefferson, N.Y. for a building project among other needs.
Ray and Barbara Wragg from Sheffield, England, won over $15 million (U.S.) in 2000 and have given away almost all of that ever since, mainly to hospitals. Barbara passed away in May 2018. PHOTO: SWNS
Sheelah Ryan (center) had long been one of the most generous lottery winners. She won $55.2 million in 1988 in Florida and spent the next six years giving money away until she passed away from cancer in 1994.
A 30-year-old single school teacher in Taiwan reportedly bought a lottery ticket in 2005 with the sole purpose of giving away the winnings. And she is said to have done just that.
Idaho’s Hilda Floyd won $1 million in 2011 and has given 90% of that away to her family, her church and charitable organizations.
Steve and Carolyn West of Medford, Ore, split a $340 million Powerball ticket in 2006 with their family. They also opened up a charitable foundation and have donated millions to different organizations.
Shaw McBride won $159 million in Georgia in 2009 and announced at a press conference that money only buys possessions. He was planning on donating all of his winnings to those in need.
Another feel-good story out of Taiwan claims an anonymous 23-year-old office worker won the equivalent of nearly $10 million and donated close to $1 million to different organizations benefiting children.
