Lottery Winner's Quiet Life 40 Years Later

In September 1984, Michael Wittkowski, a 28-year-old printer from Chicago, stepped forward to claim a then-record $40 million from the Illinois State Lottery. Wittkowski announced his intention to share the winnings with his family, pay off debts, and noted his lifestyle would likely remain unchanged due to his already happy family life. He disclosed that his family consistently played the lottery using the same six numbers for months prior to his win.

Wittkowski's decision to go public led to significant attention, including a bomb threat to his home and over a thousand letters from strangers, one detailing extreme financial hardship. He later expressed a wish to have remained anonymous. The winnings were paid out annually over 20 years as part of an agreement with his father, brother, and sister.

By 2014, Wittkowski reflected on the experience, telling NBC News he would have preferred anonymity and recounting the overwhelming nature of public attention. In 2024, Wittkowski, then 68, shared that he had lived a peaceful life in his home for 30 years, golfed, and occasionally still played the lottery. He considered the win a life-changing event for his family, noting its significant positive impact. This historic win from 1984 now stands in contrast to modern, larger jackpots, such as the $2.04 billion won by Edwin Castro in 2022.