Million dollar winner says money won’t change him

By Kelcy Dolan
Posted 2/2/16

Having lost the billion-dollar Powerball jackpot by only one number, Charles Scott Jr. of Warwick, feels a bit slighted to have won only a million.

Scott, 62, who barely ever plays the lottery, …

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Million dollar winner says money won’t change him

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Having lost the billion-dollar Powerball jackpot by only one number, Charles Scott Jr. of Warwick, feels a bit slighted to have won only a million.

Scott, 62, who barely ever plays the lottery, said it was just a “fluke” he purchased tickets before the big payout.

Owing a cashier at Conimicut Liquors 25 cents, Scott stopped in to return the debt. Jokingly, the cashier said it must have been her lucky day; she suggested maybe it was Scott’s as well and encouraged him to buy some tickets. He said “heck with it,” and purchased $60 worth of quick picks.

He forgot about the tickets, lost them even. Once he found them he stopped by the liquor store to see what he had won.

The first ticket won $4 and the second $8. When he entered in the third ticket, the machine went crazy. The cashier thought maybe he had won $500, but later the ticket would be given back to Scott with the words, “Welcome to the million dollar club.”

Scott had given the cashier $1 after the $4 ticket and $2 after the $8 ticket. When the million-dollar came out and the cashier looked at him he said, “Not a chance,” jokingly.

Scott, a retired lieutenant for the Providence Fire Department and previous commercial pilot, has already made his living and doesn’t believe the money will make him any more comfortable than he already is.

“It feels good to be a winner, but I don’t think it’ll change me too much. I think if I had come from nothing it would mean a lot more.”

Initially, Scott said he had these “crazy and unrealistic dreams,” like buying a house in Hawaii. But once taxes are removed, Scott left with a little more than $700,000, and you begin to realize what your dreams would actually cost in the long run, you see that winning a million dollars doesn’t go as far as you’d hope.

“Now, a billion, that’s money you could dream with,” Scott said.

Scott missed the Powerball by one number; he had 11 instead of 10.

Right after winning, Scott thought it best to hide the ticket before he went to the lottery, but hid it so well he had trouble finding it at first. He was given a check, but was unable to keep the giant cardboard one. As of Friday he had yet to deposit the check itself in the bank.

Scott is a simple and happy man. As a “dungaree and t-shirt guy,” he doesn’t have any elaborate plans with the money. He has already planned on getting a new pick-up truck and will most likely use the money for that. He is a big car fan and will also probably purchase another one besides the pick-up with his winnings.

“I have everything I need already,” Scott said.

Scott regularly donates dog food to the local animal shelter and may make a donation with the lottery winnings as well.

Since winning, Scott has learned he has many more “cousins” than he ever knew about and people have been coming out of the woodworks. One of the more interesting calls he has received was from a woman asking for $500 for new clothes because she had lost so much weight; after all, she lost all the weight just for him. He hadn’t seen or heard from this woman in 40 years.

“Every time the phone rings its someone different and there’s a lot of knocking on my door,” Scott said. “People say money can’t buy happiness. I say I’ll show you where to shop.”

His advice to all?

“You can’t win if you don’t play.”

Comments

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  • warwickguy

    Maybe he will use some of that money to clean himself up a little maybe a haircut ect.

    Wednesday, February 3, 2016 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    Now that he has some extra income, I hope that he gives back part of his pension. The city could use a break.

    Wednesday, February 3, 2016 Report this

  • JaxTeller

    Yes, maybe he should return his past tax refunds to the IRS too.

    Sheesh man, he didn't win THAT much money. Let's not forget, his "winnings" were reduced by over 300,000. The State and Federal Government already took their "share." Let him be. Between paying off all his debt, and the money he'll surely be giving away. He still has a lifetime of bills ahead of him. Who knows if he owns a home or if he plans on buying one. Then there's annual property taxes, car taxes, insurance premiums, (Home, auto, life) utilities, food, cost of living and on and on it goes. None of that goes away. He's still facing the same bs as the rest of us. He may have a decent nest egg now but it goes quickly, especially if he begins giving any away. This is a large amount of money, don't get me wrong, but it's not "set for life" kind of money. It could be, if your very careful.

    Wednesday, February 3, 2016 Report this