1 in 5 lottery winners became multi-millionaires and kept going to work. For years. Some are STILL working today. A judge returned to the bench. A trucker bought a USED truck. An accountant never left her desk.
149 winners with documented employment decisions
Key Finding: Winners who kept working 1+ years have 0% financial ruin rate. Those who quit immediately: 5.4% went bankrupt.
They were already set for life, yet chose to keep their jobs. Not a single one went bankrupt.
3 of them (5.4%) ended up in financial ruin. The pattern is clear.
Continued teaching 6 AM spinning classes at Gold's Gym for 2 years after winning.
"Why would you stop doing something you really enjoy?"
Continued ranching for 13+ years, built 50,000-acre operation, sold in 2022 for $37M.
"I could have retired and done really nothing. But I love it. Ranching is a hard life, but if you love what you do..."
Bought a USED truck to continue trucking after winning $105 million.
"I've got to have something to do... There is no reason to waste money, even if you've got it to waste."
Returned to the bench April 1, 2016 - less than a month after winning $291 million.
"It's in my blood. I won't work as often but I'll fill in."
9+ years later - still works as Project Accountant at Turner Construction.
"I don't plan on changing much about my lifestyle."
Professional Engineer at Nebraska DOT. Won in 2005, named Employee of the Year in 2013-2014 - 8 years later!
Laborer at HRI, Inc. Won in 2007. Received 17-year service award in 2023 - proving he worked 16 years after his $17M windfall.
Worked at Mercy Medical Center for 32 years. Called the morning after to say she wouldn't return.
"I'm going to go hide in my bed."
Target employee. Tried to show up the day after, but resigned on day two.
"I felt like the whole world was after me."
Truck driver at Iberia Foods. Captures the immediate impulse:
"I'm not going to work, I'm quitting right away! I'm rich."
Notice the difference? Winners who quit spoke of escape ("hide in my bed", "don't gotta work no more"). Winners who kept working spoke of purpose ("Why would you stop doing something you really enjoy?").
Daily routines prevent impulsive decisions. Winners with jobs have less time to spend money recklessly.
Work provides purpose beyond wealth. Brad Duke wasn't just "a lottery winner" - he was a fitness instructor who happened to win.
Workplaces maintain existing relationships. Quitting immediately isolates winners from their support network.
Time to process, plan, and adjust. Winners who quit same-day make decisions in a state of shock.
Winners who kept their structure, purpose, and identity intact had a 0% financial ruin rate. Those who quit immediately had 5.4% - nearly infinite times higher.
Source: CazPoint Powerball Winners Study, 149 winners with documented employment decisions (1992-2024).