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TODAY
Brian and Mary Lohse, who won the Powerball jackpot in September.
There could be worse troubles than becoming instant millionaires. But problems arise.
For Brian and Mary Lohse, one of those is dealing with constant requests for money.
“You can’t help everybody. I mean, we would like to, but you can’t,” Mary Lohse said Wednesday on TODAY. “I have a stack of letters at home about this thick of people, just strangers, wanting — and you want to help them, but you can’t. You don’t know who’s telling the truth and who’s not.”
In September, Lohse and her husband won the $202 million Powerball jackpot. The Bondurant, Iowa, couple opted for the $129.8 million cash payout option, reducing their winnings to $90 million after taxes.
But before they claimed their winnings, Brian Lohse called his attorney with instructions to put together a financial and estate planning team to help them handle their new-found wealth. That group includes an accountant, attorneys and advisers from Goldman Sachs.
Brian, a lawyer himself, had dabbled in estate planning and “knew the basics of having large amounts of money,” he told TODAY’s Matt Lauer.
The couple, who have three children, are in the process of creating a foundation for their charitable contributions. Brian Lohse has since quit his job to oversee the foundation work. Mary Lohse, a medical assistant, continues to work part-time.
There have been no major splurges yet for the family, although they did buy some clothes and a pair of new cars.
Psychiatrist Gail Saltz told TODAY that winning the lottery can be a mixed blessing for some people. While many find themselves with comfortable, happy lifestyles, sudden wealth also can bring conflict for those emotionally and socially unable to handle it.
“More often than not, people are overwhelmed,” she said. “The money erodes away at their relationships, they get self-destructive and at the end of the day, they would have been better off not winning the lottery.”
Brian Lohse said his attorney advised him to take his time spending the winnings.
"He kept saying, ‘grow into the money. You have time for all that; just grow into the money,’” he said.
Mary Lohse still plays the lottery. She said she recently won $4 and has and even purchased tickets for Wednesday’s drawing, predicted to be the largest jackpot ever at $500 million.
Brian Lohse said he still finds it “a little strange" to be called a millionaire.
"Every time we see numbers about the financial projections, we can’t fathom it," he said. "It's just unreal.”
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They seem to be doing it the right way. I don't think we will see them on any negative lottery shows stating that they are broke. At least I hope not. I would probably do the same thing...still work, maybe open my own clothing boutique. :) I'd give money to charities I already support and help my closest family members and friends who have always loved me and been there for me. My family would finally be able to buy a home and get a pair of nice cars. I think I would have had it paid out over time b/c I'd want all my money. But if I died, I wonder if the rest of the money that I didn't get would get to my children? Good luck to everyone who is playing! :D
Move away, tell no one where you move you won money and start your life over. Otherwise, the requests will keep coming and those who don't get money will be jealous and resentful.
People who win should keep their names secret.
Some states, like VA, make you show your face and reveal your name. :(
Most states won't allow for the winner's names to be secret.
lol if they win the 500 mill too I'm gonna puke. lol
WHAT THE F***?!?! She is still buying lotto tix?!?! That should not be allowed!! Let some of us have a shot at winning it, even though I know the chances are SLIM to none, but I've heard that some lucky bastards have hit it twice!!!
Everyone has the same chance to win.
Jealousy and envy are not appealing traits.
I don't know why they still keep buying lottery tickets. At first I thought they were down to earth people just trying to cope with a new-found wealth. But if they really have hopes of winning another huge jackpot, it makes me feel like they truly are greedy. I mean, is $90 million not enough? Will she finally be able to quit her part time job if she hits the $500 million jackpot?
Lottery tickets are a form of entertainment.
Hey Drake!! Its Bruce and Lupita we go to school with you!!!!! We love you! Come home soon and safe!! <3
Wow, the amazing jealousy of some people! Not allowed to keep buying tickets? Were some of you serious? Lottery Tickets have become such a habit for some people they just do it- not out of greed. I seriously doubt this lady is gritting her teeth with a NEED to win again.
And Carol- yeah it would be nice to claim anonymously but very few state Lotterys allow that. Read the "small print" for YOUR state if you play. I know in mine we don't have that option.
Still...I'd dearly LOOOVE to have the problem of TOO MUCH MONEY ;)
Hey Drake!! Its Bruce and Lupita we love you and come home soon and safe please!! <3
I don't mean to sound snarky, but they both need to spend their money on a gym membership, personal trainer, and a perhaps a personal dietitian or chef. One of them could also use a gastric bypass, so she can at least be healthy and hopefully live long enough to really enjoy her winnings.
I was thinking more along the lines of liposuction.
At the very least one of them should be using a clothes designer that hides all those bulges and hang downs. And do something to loose all that ugly fat that will prevent her from living her new life to the fullest for at least a few more years.
Snarky is not the word I would use. Who are we to tell them how to spend their money? And how do we know that she doesnt have a medical condition she is being treated for. We do not know them, so back the heck off!
. . . Enjoy your lives and don't let people get you down.
. . a hand-out is not a hand-up.....
Going on TV is definitely going to help them not get requests for money. LOL. If at all possible I would try to hide the fact I won the lottery. If the newspapers or televsion stations let the cat out of the bag I would move to another state, grow a beard and enjoy my life.
Well they DID say they weren't giving out money because they didn't know who was really in need and who was a scammer.
And of course you're wrong again boom! reason as per usual, two winners in the powerball drawing.
In Iowa, they make you disclose your identity, but one thing's for sure, if I just found out we won, I would see a make-up artist to alter our appearance for the cameras, then after the 'big check' presentation, would go legally change our names and move to a spatial ranch in w. Montana where we could live anonymously. The makeup artist would be imperative so no one could recognize us after the name change and we could (minus the name change) be ourselves.
I deserved to win more than these people.
in 5 years they will be broke again as are most lottery winners .. they are still in shock and awe of winning .. once that wears off their life will change and so will their taste .. then the money runs out by spending too much or bad decisions
They were not broke to begin with.
smallmind2012, you deserve nothing.
I would take my winnings to any other company then Goldman Sachs. I have seen articles on Their history in suggesting how Greece should handle their money accounts has resulted in bankruptcy for the Greek government. Doesnt anybody read the headlines anymore ?
I'm sure the Lohse do not have a heart of stone, but I saw a special and some of the letters these lottery winner receive. One letter looked like it was written by a third grader wanting $500,000. I wish these people would leave these people alone, they did not ask for the fame and they definitely did not want to here from total strangers. Taxes sure eat up a lot of your money, from $302 million, to $129 million to $90 million after taxes.
I received a text message from this number stating that i was selected by Brian & Mary Lohse to receive a donation of 1,500,000.00 USD. To claim send my full names to lohsefamily@gmail.com.is it true?