Even if you have never played the lottery you know you have probably wondered “what if you won.”
You’ve tried to think about what you would do.
Would you show up for work the next day?
What’s the first thing you would do with the money?
How would you be able to handle the new found wealth?
What charities would you give money to or how much would you give your place of worship?
Well, for the first time since South Carolina began its lottery, a state resident has won the big Powerball game.
A construction worker from Gaston in Lexington County near Columbia, Jonathan Vargas, who will turn 20 in July, won this past Saturday.
He will take his prize, $35.3 million, in a lump sum payment of about $17.3 million.
At a press conference to introduce the winner, Vargas said in an Associated Press story that we was a little scared by the prospect of being a millionaire at his young age.
He told the AP, the money is “a blessing from God.”
“You never ask the Lord why you are blessed,” he told the AP. “I’m not going to ask the Lord why he put it in my hands.”
He went on to say more of the “right things” — that he’ll give to his church and will consider going to college.
And that he will set up a trust fund for his brothers and sisters.
He’ll buy a new house for his mother and step father.
He’ll hire an attorney and a financial planner.
And you know that’s what many people say.
But there are lots of stories out there about past winners that couldn’t handle the money or the pressure of everybody asking them for money or help.
Let’s hope for this young man’s sake that he follows through on his plans and spends the money wisely.
But trouble is already rearing its head.
He told The State newspaper in Columbia that friends have told him about possible threats and he is considering hiring a body guard.
Some people probably don’t think he needs any more luck.
But sometimes the winners find their luck wasn’t so lucky after all.
Let’s hope his doesn’t back fire.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement