Jack Whittaker’s $315 million Powerball win spirals into crime and tragedy

In December 2002, West Virginia construction businessman Jack Whittaker purchased a Powerball ticket that netted a $315 million jackpot, the largest single‑ticket prize in U.S. history at the time. He took a lump‑sum cash option, receiving about $113 million after taxes.

Whittaker initially used a portion of the winnings for philanthropy, donating $15 million to build two churches and establishing the Jack Whittaker Foundation, which provided cash, cars and housing to people in need. He also hired the clerk who sold him the ticket to help manage aid requests.

Within months the sudden wealth attracted legal and criminal challenges. Whittaker’s construction firm faced multiple lawsuits, and he was robbed twice at the Pink Pony strip club, where he was known to keep large amounts of cash on hand. Subsequent personal setbacks included a divorce in 2008, a house fire in 2016, his granddaughter’s overdose, and ongoing financial and legal battles. Whittaker died in 2020 after a long illness, his story often cited as a cautionary tale about the perils of sudden riches.