A man who scooped a staggering £21 million fortune on the American Powerball lottery has shared the surprising pressure he faced from his own family to give the money away.
The Life-Changing Win at the Petrol Pump
In 1999, Timothy Shultz was a 21-year-old petrol station attendant when his life was transformed overnight by a $28 million (approximately £21 million) Powerball jackpot. Despite his youth, Shultz was acutely aware of the cautionary tales surrounding lottery winners who rapidly lose their wealth.
Determined not to become another statistic, his first crucial move was to seek expert guidance. "At 21, I had no idea what to do with that kind of money and was lucky I sought professional guidance," Shultz told Business Insider. "I didn't want to become a statistic of lottery winners going broke within a few years."
Smart Investments Versus Family Expectations
Following this professional advice, Shultz focused on building a sustainable financial future. He invested prudently in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, ensuring his windfall would last. He also used some of the money to fund his education, studying film and broadcast journalism.
However, his sensible approach was not universally applauded. Shultz revealed that some family members viewed his unearned wealth as a communal pot. "A family member explicitly told me I got something for nothing by winning the lottery and should keep giving them and others money," he explained, highlighting the complex dynamics that sudden wealth can create.
Lasting Legacies and Recent Jackpots
Now, over two decades later, Timothy Shultz hosts a podcast and YouTube channel named ‘Lottery, Dreams, and Fortune’. His story emerges as another massive Powerball jackpot of $1.817 billion (£1.35 billion) was recently won in Arkansas, marking the second-largest win in the lottery's history.
In a similar spirit of using good fortune for good, a UK National Lottery winner is also giving back. Michele Jones from Crewe, who won £6.1 million with her partner Kevin in 2016, has spent the last three years volunteering at a local South Cheshire food pantry.
"Winning the lottery has bought us time more than anything," Michele said. "Supporting and giving back close to home is really important to us." She described the pantry as a vital community hub, offering far more than just food.
The experiences of both Shultz and Jones demonstrate that while a lottery win brings immense freedom, the true test lies in managing the windfall wisely—whether through astute financial planning or heartfelt community service.
