Jack Whittaker (lottery winner)

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Andrew Jackson “Jack” Whittaker, Jr. (born c. 1947 in Jumping Branch, Summers County, West Virginia) is a West Virginia businessman who became famous when he won US$315 million in the Powerball multi-state lottery. At the time it was the largest jackpot ever won by a single winning ticket in the history of American lottery. He has become even more famous since his win due to several well-publicized brushes with the law as well as personal and family tragedies.

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[edit] The big win

Whittaker was the 55-year-old president of Diversified Enterprises Construction, a successful contracting firm in Putnam County, West Virginia, when he chose the correct numbers on December 25, 2002. Whittaker had a net worth of over US$1 million even before his Powerball windfall. Whittaker purchased the winning Powerball ticket at a supermarket in Hurricane, West Virginia, where he had stopped for a deli breakfast sandwich.

The jackpot that day was a US$314.9 million annuity or US$170 million cash. Whittaker chose the cash payment option and received a check for US$113.9 million after tax withholdings.

[edit] Philanthropy

Whittaker pledged 10% of his winnings to Christian charities—including several churches affiliated with the Church of God—in southern West Virginia. One of the beneficiary congregations constructed a multi-million dollar church in Hurricane. He also donated $14 million to establish the Jack Whittaker Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides food and clothing to low-income families in rural West Virginia. Furthermore, he tipped the woman who sold him the winning ticket by buying her a house and a new car.

[edit] Legal and personal problems

But his new wealth also caused problems. Whittaker has been arrested several times and has had numerous well-publicized legal and family problems.

[edit] Target for criminals

Thieves broke into Whittaker's car on August 5, 2003 while it was parked at the Pink Pony strip club in Cross Lanes, West Virginia, getting away with $545,000 in cash [1][2]. Two employees at the same club were later arrested and charged with a plot to put drugs in Whittaker's drinks and then rob him. On January 25, 2004, thieves once again broke into his car, this time making off with an estimated $100,000 in cash.

[edit] Brushes with the law

He was arrested for drunk driving on Interstate 64 on January 16, 2003. If convicted, he could face up to 6 months in jail. On January 6, 2004, Whittaker was arrested for misdemeanor assault after allegedly threatening the life of a bar manager in St. Albans, West Virginia, a charge that could bring an additional 6 months in jail. He has also been sued after allegedly groping a woman at a dog racetrack. Whittaker told a TV station after he was charged with drunken driving, "It doesn't bother me because I can tell everyone to kiss off."

[edit] Tragedy

In September 2003, Jesse Tribble, a 17-year-old friend of Jack's granddaughter Brandi Bragg, was found dead in Whittaker's home in Teays Valley, West Virginia. A coroner's report indicated that she died of a drug overdose.

On December 20, 2004, Brandi, 17, was found dead after a drug overdose. After she had been missing for several weeks, her body was discovered lying under a tarpaulin near her boyfriend's home in Scott Depot.

[edit] Frustration with the criminal justice system

At a October 11, 2005 hearing related to his January 2003 DUI, a visibly shaken Whittaker lashed out at area law enforcement agencies for focusing on his troubles while failing to arrest anyone in relation to his granddaughter's death:

"Go after whoever killed my granddaughter with as much zealous [sic] as these butt holes are trying to convict me of something I didn’t do."[3]

[edit] Bounced Checks

Whittaker is also being sued by Caesar's Atlantic City casino for bouncing $1.5 million worth of checks to cover gambling losses. Whittaker is also countersuing them, claiming that his losses were supposed to be credited due to a slot machine he developed and that they in fact owe him money. [4]

[edit] Notes

  1. ↑  "Rich Man, Poor Man", Washington Post, Jan. 30, 2005.
  2. ↑  "One wild ride for jackpot winner", USA Today, Feb. 12, 2004.
  3. ↑  West Virginia Metro News, Oct. 11, 2005.
  4. ↑  "Largest Single Powerball Winner in US History"

[edit] External links

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