For many, hitting the lottery jackpot is a dream come true but for Gerald Muswagon, it turned into a nightmare .
The 42-year-old from Manitoba, Canada, won a $10million jackpot after buying a $2 Super 7 ticket in 1998. However, just seven years later he'd be dead.
The lottery winner's life took a tragic turn soon after the massive win, culminating in suicide. Gerald splurged his winnings on flashy cars, a large house that quickly became a "party pad", and other luxuries as he reveled in his newfound wealth, Globe and Mail reports.
He also lavished his friends with extravagant gifts. But not long after his win, rumors also started circulating in his hometown Winnipeg that he had squandered much of his fortune on alcohol and drugs.
In one day alone, he reportedly bought eight big-screen TVs to give away to his loved ones. Gerald's cousin, Mike Muswagon, said the lottery winner didn't receive much guidance from those around him in the months following his windfall.
"He didn't have the right people around him at the time, people who could have guided him," Mike stated. "A lot of people asked a lot of him."
A few years after bagging the $10million prize, Gerald tried to put his money to good use by starting his own business. He established a lumber company named Gerald's Logging, but it quickly failed due to lack of business.
After returning to his wild lifestyle, Gerald ended up on the wrong side of the law. One fateful day in October 2000, he revved up his Chevy Silverado for a high-speed joyride which swiftly escalated into a police chase, clocking speeds of up to 111 mph.
His thrill-seeking antics landed him in court where he admitted to reckless driving, sealing his fate with a three-month stint behind bars. A number of years later, Gerald's wife died and shortly after this he found himself entangled with the law once more after pleading guilty to sexual assault charges, receiving another three months' prison.
By then, his once vast fortune dwindled, leaving him laboring for wages to keep his new partner and six kids afloat. Embracing the grind, he took up backbreaking work at a nearby farm but battled a crushing wave of depression.
"I really wanted him to be set up for life, so he never had to work another day," lamented his cousin, reflecting on a life swamped by misfortune. "He should have been able to do that. But he made some very bad decisions."
In an agonizing twist, just seven years post his $10 million bonanza, Gerald's life spiraled to a heart-wrenching close as he took his own life in his family's garage. On the heels of his untimely demise, Gerald's attorney hinted at his tormented struggle to adapt to life post-lottery success.
"Unfortunately, he had a very difficult time adjusting, coming from Norway House with very little education," revealed Tim Valgardson.
Cousin Mike revealed in a chat with Lottery Post: "People are very upset, and this is all very surprising. But he had been very depressed lately, although he kept that part of him well hidden."
For emotional support in the US, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to http://SuicidePreventionLifeline.org
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