$208M Lottery Winner Dies At Age 43

(AP)  A man who won a $208 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot with his wife in April 2005 has died.

Police and a family spokesman say Ralph Stebbins died Saturday at his Michigan home of heart failure. He was 43.

Stebbins and his wife, Mary, elected to take a lump-sum payment of nearly $125 million, less taxes. The couple said they planned to use the money to buy a cow, pay off some bills and pay for a garage to house a 1963 Corvette.

Both quit their jobs after winning the jackpot. They also used their money to help several other family members retire.

The Stebbinses were married for 23 years and had three children.

Mega Millions is played in several states.

[gramto7]

I've always said when I grow up, I want to become a professional lottery winner.

Despite this story, I will stick with my plan.
Posted by olebd

I agree. However, as I am now 51, I suppose you could call me a late-bloomer since I am not yet a professional lottery winner.

Condolences to the family of this man. If it were my choice, I would much rather have my husband alive again than to have the money!

[olebd]

I've always said when I grow up, I want to become a professional lottery winner.

Despite this story, I will stick with my plan.

[agnim]

"It is a rather well established fact that second hand money or money not earned is rarely beneficial to anyone.

Posted by sueneely at 01:56 PM : Dec 28, 2006"
That is such a freaking dumb statement; one would have to be DAM LOSER to come up with such a statement, right? LOL

The world runs on businesses, in which MONEY MAKES MORE MONEY!

Fools rather invest their sweat to make a relatively few pennies!

The wise rather INVEST THEIR MONEY TO MAKE MORE MONEY!

"Unearned money", "second hand money" my arse! LOL

[markbrookhar]

Why does the government think that they should tax everything? Earnings should be taxed not money not earned. The only real winners in any contest is the government, they are guarenteed a 50% cut of everything. what do we get for it? We get to fund a war that kills our children and our enemy's children. BTW- they need to do an autopsy on the guy.... make sure it wasn't an assisted heart attack.

[delta5243]

I can honestly say without a doubt that if I personally won $208 million dollars I would be dead within 2 to 3 years.....drugs along with fast cars and women would be the death of me....but what a way to go ;)

[sueneely]

It is a rather well established fact that second hand money or money not earned is rarely beneficial to anyone.

[marcpcbs]

They need to change the rules if they really want the lottery to help people.

One Idea is, of the 208 million, pull the taxes up front, say half leaving 104 million. Then hand out $2 million dollar prizes (tax free) to as many people as the remaining amount allows. In this case fifty-two people who were closest to the winning numbers would receive $2 mil each.

The winners could take 1 mil and fix the house, buy two new cars, put away money for the kid's education, take a vacation and start or pump up the family business. The other million could go into a 10% account and render 100K a year from then on.

[gregory511]

43? unbelieveable good luck then bad I guess

[consciousnes]

Surfndeez, just because someone doesn't dream of owning the moon, doesn't mean they don't have big dreams. They also helped a few others up to this point in time, with what they got.
How many other people would you have helped with that kind of money?