Man skips office pool, loses share of $319 million prize
The man who didn’t chip in $2 to the lottery office pool is being called the “biggest loser” by some, but to me he sounds like a winner.
Mike (not pictured) will learn tears and electronics do not mix.
Why? He’s not whining about it.
Sure, it would be a soul-crushing experience to see your co-workers split up the $319 Mega Millions prize (more than $19 million each after taxes), but at least he’s not bitter or suing.
“I just wasn’t feeling lucky that day,” said Mike, who didn’t want to give his last name, in an ABC News article. Today, he worked on keeping New York state government computers running while his millionaire friends went to pick up their over-sized check. The lucky seven haven’t been showing up to work, and are expected to quit, though they’ve not told their bosses anything.
“I don’t think they’ll cut me in. I don’t think they should. I don’t deserve it,” he said.
His friends had asked twice to see if he wanted to chip in, but he declined.
Maybe he’s looking at the bright side. With his department being reduced to just one person, he’s probably next in line for a promotion.
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41 comments Add your comment
Joel
April 1st, 2011
12:52 am
They don’t owe the guy a thing, but it will be nice and give them free goodpublicity if they gave the colleague a 20K gift collectively. When you become a multi millionaire, the only thing left for you in life is to enhance your legacy. Pitching in 2K each to give the guy a 20K or so would add a little gem to that legacy of each of the group.
I am Jack's inflamed sense of rejection
April 1st, 2011
1:50 am
“And this button-down, Oxford-cloth psycho might just snap, and then stalk from office to office with an Armalite AR-10 carbine gas-powered semi-automatic weapon, pumping round after round into colleagues and co-workers.”
Mike
April 1st, 2011
8:21 am
I love my job, working here for the State. I’m so glad I didn’t win all that money. What a hassle that would be. I’ll be having my lunch down on the GW bridge.
shera
April 1st, 2011
8:44 am
I just CANNOT imagine how he feels! Ugh! That would just suck beyond belief! I don’t think I would ever get over it if I was in Mike’s shoes!
I remember a few years ago, several of my coworkers each put in $10 for someone to go buy FL lottery tickets. None of us made much money and I refused to participate. I cannot tell you how stressed I was over the weekend just thinking of them winning and then taunting me.
They didn’t win.
Steve
April 1st, 2011
8:45 am
Something tells me Anita is planning the old ’slip, fall, and make bank’ routine at a local store in the near future. Her whole post is a twisted example of how our court systems get abused by frivolous lawsuits.
As for the pool, those against it just keep to yourself. For me, our office only plays when it gets aroudn $200 million and then it’s two or three bucks per person. Quite frankly, $2-$3 bucks every quarter is not going to cost me $5000 ‘a few years down the road’. Now, if you are talking abotu those that play every week, then I would agree. To me, the money is well spent for entertainment. Compare it to spending $30-$40 going to a movie you could see free in a year or two and have absolutely no shot of getting any valuable ROI, and it makes very good sense. To each their own.
I don’t feel bad for the guy, but man, what a time to decide not to play. I have no doubt he will be taken care of by his friends. Maybe not to the tune of millions, but I am willing to bet he makes 6-figures from gifts.
Future Georgia Lottery Winner
April 1st, 2011
2:26 pm
I honestly can’t say whether or not I would give Mike anything. Because he had a chance to play. Two dollars wasn’t going to make him or break him. As for the people who are trying to rationalize the events that needed to take place in order for those 7 people to win maybe it wasn’t a part of Mike’s destiny to be a millionaire.
Emily Raab
April 5th, 2011
11:36 am
Engaging and well written article! This tops anything I have read lately on the subject at hand. I wonder if this’ll be posted on Twenty-First Tycoon. Although the site has awesome political, business, technology and real estate news, they could use more stuff like this. http://www.21Tycoon.com
dcstan
April 6th, 2011
5:32 am
your logic is flawed, 2 dollars and he missed out on Life Changing Money, he sounds like a cheap skate like you
jj
April 6th, 2011
8:42 am
Studies have shown lottery winners are the least happy people. I NEVER want to be this guy, but he won’t have the highs and the typical lows of winners. (I never play the lottery, but if the office is going in, I play. I don’t want to be the guy left behind. Knowing what I’ve read, I’d like a chance at that unhappiness myself…)
Sue
April 6th, 2011
11:38 am
Am I the only person who would give this guy a consolation prize out of my own winnings? Had I won of course. This could have been any of them in the same boat had they not had the two dollars on them or had they been out sick that day. Now, if the guy was generally not a nice co-worker I may find that difficult but I also read the bible and know to love my neighbor and treat others how you would like to be treated.