For the sake of privacy, lottery winners may choose to remain anonymous. In Arizona, for example, they may choose to remain anonymous. But their city and county of residence will be publicly available if a public records request is made. In California, on the other hand, winnings must be publicly announced if they’re worth $1 million or more. In New Hampshire, a woman recently won $560 million in the Powerball lottery. But even though she wants to remain anonymous, the state law requires the winner’s city and county. If you’re a lottery winner in Florida, you can also decide to be completely anonymous.
Unfortunately, the unluckiest lottery winners are the exception to the rule. While many lucky people do become millionaires, most lottery winners are not happy with the results of their winnings. Many end up broke, beleaguered, or worse than they were before. These stories were reported by newspapers across the United States, including the 1765 case of a Paris baker and his pregnant wife who were murdered over their winnings. A few even choose to remain anonymous because they fear that the news would affect their job.
Unfortunately, many lottery winners find themselves facing the consequences of their actions. One woman who won a $1 million jackpot in 1985, Evelyn Basehore, died in 2000, unable to spend her money. She used much of her money to gamble and give it to family members. By the time she won her big prize, she was in debt with $2.5 million. As of 2021, the mystery surrounding her death remains unsolved.