Meghan Markle got her start with help of a $750K California Lottery win from her father
/Actress and wife of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's early education was funded by an unexpected lottery win by her father, Thomas Markle.
This story uncovers an interesting part of Prince Harry's wife's life, showing how luck had a big impact on her upbringing.
Tom Markle, a name familiar to those following the life stories of the British royal family, was not just any ordinary dad.
Before Meghan became a household name as an actor and then a member of the British Royal Family, her father was a successful Hollywood lighting designer.
His work on the long-running soap opera "General Hospital" was well-regarded, and it was there he met Doria Ragland, a makeup artist in training who would become his second wife and Meghan's mother.
However, their marriage had ended by the time Tom received his lottery windfall.
In 1990, Tom Markle's routine of buying lottery tickets finally paid off. According to royal author Andrew Morton, Tom was a regular at this game of chance, spending thousands in the hope of a big win.
His persistence was rewarded when he won $750,000 in the California State Lottery. The winning numbers included a very personal touch – they featured Meghan's birth date, August 4, 1981.
Adjusted for inflation, this sum would be close to $1.5 million in today's money.
Unfortunately, this financial boon did not lead to everlasting prosperity, as Tom eventually filed for bankruptcy.
The windfall came at a time when Tom was recovering from his divorce from Ragland.
To protect his winnings, he sent a friend to Chicago to collect the prize. This decision, meant to safeguard his future, ironically led to one of his biggest losses.
Tom Jr., Meghan's half-brother, shared that their father was persuaded by this same friend to invest in a jewelry business. The investment didn't work out, resulting in the loss of a big part of the lottery money.
Despite this setback, Tom Markle used the money wisely in some areas. He supported his children's endeavors, including providing Tom Jr. with the funds to start a flower shop and buying a car for his daughter Yvonne.
Most importantly, he made sure Meghan's education was taken care of, using the lottery winnings to pay for her tuition at a Catholic school.
