10 People Who Won the Lottery — Then Lost it All

Prev3 of 10Next

8. Ken Proxmire

8. Ken Proxmire

Ken Proxmire, a tool grinder from Michigan, won $1 million in the 1977 Michigan Lottery. Proxmire used his winnings to indulge his inner entrepreneur. He moved to California to open a chain of sporting goods stores.

Several years later, his business went under. $100,000 in debt, Proxmire filed for bankruptcy. His wife left him at that time, too, according to this Time Magazine article. Since his business failure, tax payments and bankruptcy settlements have gobbled up most of his annual winnings.

Prev3 of 10Next

8. Ken Proxmire

Written by Drea Knufken

Currently, I create and execute content- and PR strategies for clients, including thought leadership and messaging. I also ghostwrite and produce press releases, white papers, case studies and other collateral.