Life after the lottery: A look at Idaho's big winners, beneficiaries
In this special report, winners reflect on their life-changing luck and spending strategies. KTVB also dives into beneficiaries of the Idaho Lottery and its history.
There's no doubt, may people have spent time thinking about what they would do if they won the lottery, especially with all of the recent record jackpot prizes. Some Idahoans have previously told KTVB they would "pay off some debt," or "buy some apartment complexes."
When it comes to the statistics, you have a better chance of being struck by lightning, or becoming the president, or getting attacked by a shark, than winning the lottery. In fact, you have a one in 292.2 million chance of winning the lottery in the United States.
While the odds are slim, the satisfaction of cashing out continues to drive people in the Gem State and nationwide toward the life-changing possibility. KTVB's Shirah Matsuzawa has the story in this special report:
Lottery Life 'Don't go over the top'
From the scratch-off tickets, to the raffles – and of course the Mega Millions and Powerball drawings – the lottery is a big business. In 2019, the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries found U.S. lottery sales totaled more than $91 billion.
"The larger the jackpot, the more interest there is in the game," Jeff Anderson said.
The eye-popping numbers are something Anderson is all too familiar with as the director for the Idaho Lottery, an organization he was been apart of for 17 years.
"The citizens approved the lottery in 1988, and we started in 1989," Anderson said. "It's super important that we stay focused on the three main things – security, integrity and responsible play – and we've done that over the years."
In those years, Anderson has seen a lot of luck and dedicated lottery players, like Ken Covert, an Idaho man who won $2.78 million in 2007.
"There's a lot of things that go through your mind," Covert said. "Should you go out and party? Should you go out and have a good time? Should you go into Las Vegas? I had one friend go to Las Vegas and double it. Well, that wasn't in my strategies at all."
Covert said life was good before he won the jackpot, and it's still good.
"I've been able to buy a few nice things. I don't go over the top. I don't need cars," Covert said. "You know, like I've told a lot of people, we don't need Lambos in Idaho. A four-wheel drive pickup is what you need, and that's what I own. I've built a nice house. Nothing huge, but a nice place. I hang around with nice people. I travel a lot, I fish a lot."
Lucky Idahoans Stories of success
Connie Goins-Legg won the lottery three times! She told KTVB every once in a while, people recognize her from her winning ways and ask, "you still playing?" She responds, "of course, aren't you?"
In 1999, her husband won $100,000 by matching the first five numbers, but not the Powerball. In 2008, she won $200,000 by also hitting the first five numbers, but not the Powerball. One year later, Goinslegg scored again.
"In 2011, I got four numbers, so that gave me – because it had the double play on it – it gave me $1,500," Goins-Legg said.
What makes the Emmett woman's winnings extra special is the story behind the wins.
"My husband was a very enthusiastic player, but he always played the same numbers," Goins-Legg said.
Her husband passed away in 2007, and shortly after, Goins-Legg said she found his tickets with his lucky numbers.
"I thought, 'oh, I'm in trouble because I haven't been playing that Powerball.' He'd be saying, 'hey, Connie, how come you haven't been doing?' So, I took it to the Stinker Station here in Emmett," Goins-Legg said. "Sure enough, the next draw, it was the lucky one where I'd won the $200,000. I kind of thought that he was actually looking down at me and watching out for me."
In April 2022, KTVB caught up with Brad Duke, the winner of one of the largest Powerball prizes in Idaho to date.
"Best part of winning, being able to give back is, in retrospect, the best part," Duke said last spring.
Duke won $220 million and set up a foundation that's still going, still in business and still benefiting the Gem State, its children and Idaho causes, according to Anderson.
"We didn't have a lot when we grew up, but for my parents to look upon what we've done in our family name and to see how proud my dad is, it's as good as the projects itself at times," Duke said.
Lottery Curse Managing the money
While the stories of life-changing wins are a joy to tell, what about the so-called lottery curse?
According to the National Endowment for Financial Education, about 70% of all lottery winners end up broke, which is why some warn to be careful what you wish for.
"A lot of people get massive lump sums of money and then they spend it all or they get harassed by friends and family for the money and for business ideas," Michael Jillson said. "Then, they end up overspending it and then it really becomes a burden on them."
Jillson is a certified financial planner at Petso Financial in Boise. He said people who receive a large sum of money through the lottery, rather than earning it over time themselves, are "much, much more likely to spend it."
For people who inherit large sums of money unexpectedly, Jillson has some advice, that includes contacting three people immediately:
"The first is going to be a CPA, because there are tax consequences that you want to know, that you want to be aware of, and be able to solve," Jillson said. "The second would be a certified financial planner, kind of like me. That's because you want help managing that money, you don't want to spend it all and you don't want it earning nothing for you. The third person is an attorney, because you want to make sure you legal documents are all in order."
As a winner himself, Covert said lottery curses are usually brought on by the people themselves.
"One of the big things people do when they win is they start waving banners and they get a license plate that says, 'I want 110 million?' Well, now you're a target. You are a target for those con people out there," Covert said. "So, I would highly suggest, disappear for a while, go underground for a while and let the storm pass. Come up, and now you're ready to do business, but you got to think of it as a business too."
Giving Back Idaho Lottery Beneficiaries
Not only is the business helping winners like Covert live good, it's also doing good for the community. With every lottery ticket purchased, Idaho schools are getting a cut.
"3/8's goes to the public schools, 3/8's goes to the permanent building fund and 1/4 goes to the bond levy equalization fund, which benefits particularly smaller school districts and helps fund the interest on their bonds," Anderson said.
The Idaho Lottery has what's known as Do Good programs. Those programs consist of Scratch for Schools, which has given more than $1.6 million back to schools in the Gem State since it began in 2001, and Bucks for Books, which has helped 89 schools totaling more than $225,000 in awards.
It also includes Classroom Wishlist, a monthly program that has funded 215 projects totaling more than $293,000 since it started in 2019. Frontier Elementary School librarian Carolyn Knam got new tables and chair for the library. She also received $3,000 worth of new books through Bucks for Books.
"We just always make do, and with the Idaho Lottery, I feel like we don't have to do that," Knam said. "I have grandchildren, you know, in school now, and I'm glad that the schools are benefiting from the lottery sales."
15 years after winning the lottery, Goins-Legg still feels excitement when she sees the check or hears any mention of the lottery.
"I just can't believe I've been that lucky," Goins-Legg said.
So, If you have $3 and a dream, you could be the next Idahoan to win big through the lottery.
Both Goins-Legg and Covert told KTVB they still play the lottery. Covert also said he has used the money to enjoy his life, but also to help people in need, giving back to organizations and scholarships.
As previously reported, there will be two seven-figure winners for the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle this year for the first time since 2007.
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