British teen lottery winner Callie Rogers, 22, blew through nearly all of a jackpot of over $3 million, spending a substantial amount of it on cocaine.
Rogers told local British media that her ex-boyfriend Nicky Lawson got her hooked on cocaine and that she spent £250,000 (about US$406,000) on the habit.
"I was spending a fortune on cocaine, a nasty evil drug that tears your life apart," Rogers was quoted as saying. "I'll be honest. About a quarter of a million pounds of my win has been wasted on it."
The News reported earlier in August that the young woman who won millions from the lottery as a teenager was broke, but much happier that way.
At the tender age of 16, Rogers won a jackpot of £1.9 million, or about US$3.1 million. But the stress of overnight riches caused lots of problems for the teen at a time in life when a minimum-wage job is more than many kids can manage.
"I was just too young to cope with suddenly having that amount in the bank when I'd come from nothing," she said in a recent interview.
"In the past six years I have sunk into a black hole — a black hole that at one point I thought I could never crawl out of."
Rogers said her drug-induced depression had caused her to attempt suicide three times.
On the last occasion in November last year her latest drug dealer boyfriend Ryan Thompson found her at home with her wrists slashed. She claims to have stayed off drugs since and is attempting to rebuild her life.
Her winnings have been spent on expensive cars, gifts, loans to family members, four houses she bought and furnished for herself and family members, luxury vacations, plastic surgery, clothing, and partying, as well as a trust fund for her children. "I won't lie, I've blown most of it," she said. "But do you know what? I don't care. Because all that money has brought me is heartache."
Rogers said she had £20,000 in a bank account and "that's about it."
A child trust fund set up for her son was "raided" by Lawson, but around £15,000 is left.
She said she is no longer taking anti-depressants, is having counselling and the support of family and friends is helping her to make the most of her life again.
"For as long as I can remember I've suffered from depression."
She first attempted suicide at 13 and winning the lottery made her mental health problems "much, much worse" instead of better, she said.
Rogers has moved back into her mother's house and is working three cleaning jobs to make ends meet, according to the Mail. She has two children, ages one and four, with Lawson.
Callie Rogers won £1.8 million (US$3 million), but then spent nearly all of it on fast cars, vacations, parties, and cocaine.
Luckily she did not die from a drug overdose and has cleaned up. Even with her wild spending habits, I am surprised that she still has money left after six years, especially when she won $ 3 million.
Young fool.
They allow people as young as 16 to play the lottery in Britain? Where were her parents in all this? I don't think a teenager has the ability to handle or control that much money. I'm not saying her parents should have had it, but, there should have been someone overseeing it, like some type of custodian.
Sadly their were no Responsible Adults in her Family to Guide Her Along the Way.
I agree. There should have been something set up to limit how much she could withdraw at any given time. Be it per day, per week, per transaction, something. Or set up like an allowence per week or per month. It reminds me of when the kid next door opened a bank account. Because she was a minor, her dad had her account set up so she could not withdraw without his consent. She could deposit her butt off but in order to withdraw she needed his signature right there with hers.
Wow, I wonder if each of her 2 children have a drug addiction now or soon. Certainly, her 4 year-old child has suffered longer than her 1-year old child.
Also, it's very sad, unfair, and deranged that the children's father (didn't say married to her) isn't being forced to pay back the monies that he stole from her/his children's trust funds [how can it be legal for a parent (even if they have the same last name) to siphen off hundreds of thousands of dollars from their baby and toddler children's trust funds; aren't these funds audited by someone who observes AGES of the trust owners? Perhaps, in the case of minors, trust funds shoud begin being treated as JUDGE SUPERVISED Probate accounts].
Wow, what a sad story.
This is not a sad story. The people who really need to win the lottery can't win, and the cracck head who doesn't need it end it up win. So what can I say? Whose choice is it? Is it our choice or someone else? For example, I got a good heart and have many good plan if I win, but I can't win. Wht? Why? Why? someone give me an answer
Well, you may have noticed that several jackpot winners had the same results as you (never really winning more than a $2-$30 bucks) -- but then, SUDDENLY, after buying each drawing ticket(s) for 20 years, they win the jackpot ... THEN THE BIG EXCITEMENT BEGINS!
Obviously, we have to obtain a ticket in order to win. Best wishes to each of you LotteryPost folks (whether your behavior is good OR bad as the crow flies) .
Because you do not deserve to win. That's why.
"Suddenly I went from having nothing to having more money than I could ever imagine, and I was only 16. Everyone all over the world was reading stories about me and (I) hated being in the spotlight.'"
Well she could have chosen to remain anonymous, UK lottery winners can and most do and get on with their lives, just with more financial security.
"homes for family members", that is the problem, some lottery winners think they can work wonders for their families and go broke trying. She should have invested her win and kept stum, but she was only 16. If only she had sensible parents, but if they did try to advise her, would she have listened?
I read the story on yahoo yesterday, people like that don't deserve to win the lottery.I also heard stories of older people spending all the money on a short period of time.When i win the lottery i won't tell nobody and the money will last.
Wow.
I am a shocked at you guys, especially you Todd. What a nasty comment to leave behind. It's not like any of you were angels or innocent or that d*mn smart when you were 16. What a bunch of sourpuss lottery losers you guys are. With that kind of attitude towards other people in their time of hardships, I sure as heck hope you NEVER win a cent. Behave like you age, if you don't wanna be called out on it, she's 16. You're not. You know better. Still, I hope all of you that commented nasty things, never win a thing. Again, just shocked at your negative comments, especially from some you chronic posters, who should post better.
Obviously she didn't have a good or any sort of a support group behind her and she clearly had emotional/psychological issues before the money which is pretty much pointed out. Her parents/family certainly deserve some of the blame and I doubt anonymity would have done anything in this case. I can't really even blame it on a lack of common sense which even though at 16 you should at least have gained a little bit of.
How was Todds comment nasty? He said she was a young fool. And it is true. She was young and foolish with her money. Where is the nasty in that? What thread are you reading where you see a bunch of nasty, sourpuss, losers? I only see one person, who made a comment which comes of as bitter and may have been uncalled for (the crack head comment). But, the rest of the comments seem to be showing pitty for the young girl and wondering what went wrong.
Also, I think wishing that others have misfortune and calling people losers, is kind of nasty in itself and maybe you will get back exactly what you wish for others. Meaning, you won't ever win a jackpot either. It's quite hypocritical of you, to call people names and tell them that they are big meanies, yet, you're participating in the same behavior that you original condemned.
Pot, meet kettle.
It is a "meanie" thing to do. Because you are addressing or talking of a 16-year-old. When I addressed most of you, I know for a fact most of you are 30 + , so don't act so insulted. You're grown, deal with it. She's not, and she shouldn't be talked of in such harsh tones. I think What Todd said at first glance seemed awfully insulting, and reading back on it, it still does. Just hear it out loud, sounds awful. And Scary chick, calling people out doesn't cound AFTER something has ALREADY BEEN SAID. Dunno, just thought better of folks I guess, but It'just a forum, it's my opinion, and it still it is, take it for what it is, and re-examine all viewpoints before defending "the adults."
Adult pot meets [me] meets steaming kettle that should know better. So yes, as full grown adults , I suppose you're saying it's okay to say anything about people less than half your age. Listen, already went to your website, and you don't exactly seem like a stand up dame either, so I dunno why I am assuming you'd be any more adult. Anyway, just childisih to pick on kids, that's all.
Everyone's entitled to an opnion, and I only responded to you because you were annoyingly self-righteous, and I hope when you were 16, nobody spoke bad about you, and gave you the benefit of the doubt when you were young, which again, looking at your website, you probably needed it. Again, that's the impression that's being given, and I'd rather offend you, than some poor girl who got help and got better, and doesn't need to be criticized given her age. By all means if your 16, then my apologies to you too, but I doubt it.
Yep, I am entitled to my opinion just like you. And I still think you are a hypocrite. Plain and simple. You are pissed off at a couple people who made comments that you didn't like, you condemned them and called them names, yet you sit on your high-tower acting superior to everyone else and think it's alright to be nasty to the posters here. If you can't see that your behavior is just as bad as the two people who made some mean comments, then your really are delusional.
As for me being childish and you not, you are acting like a 12 year old throwing a temper tantrum. "Oh no, someone made a mean comment about a girl who spent all her lottery money on drug money. You big meanies!!!1! You must have never been 16 before." Whatever. Her age, doesn't make her exempt from getting comments. Todd, posts articles all the time of people losing their lottery winnings and posters have said a lot worse. This isn't a happy story, so don't expect to see people praising this girl and being happy. If you took the time to read, which I doubt you did, you would see that a few of us actually felt bad for her and believed that if an adult or custodian of some type had been set up this could have been avoided. But no, you are to busy playing martyr as if you are protecting this woman (Who by the way is 22 now not 16.) If you can't handle anything but rainbows or unicorns, you probably should avoid stories like this.
And no worries, I couldn't care less what an angry, troll like you thinks of me. I don't know you and your opinion doesn't effect me in my day to day life. I learned enough about you and your behavior from your post. Apparently, you think your bitchy behavior is ok, but other posters negative behavior isn't.
Yeah this coming from a chronic poster. I've only posted a few times, and have never addressed anyone before. Apparantly that's all you do, with thousands and thousands of posts. And yes you are sour bc you haven't won, and this girl did, and you think she is not as deserving as everyone else of her win. You are just a sad, foul-mouth broad. And your posts are the ones that carry the most negativity. And I'm sure everyone agrees. The fact that you've been here longer and posted out like a fat pinata doesn't make you right. And everyone was thinking the same thing when they saw that negative comment by Todd, and the other ones as well. Whether they post ir or not is another story. It's hard to summize intention with just two words. G'day.
--
Oh and just because Todd is the owner of this website, that does not make him exempt from the comments he makes, so stop trying to defend him like your his guard schnowzer, and let him speak for himself. This isn't Kingland, where Thou Shall Not Try To Make ANY Comments where the King might take offense to, or rebuke him in a reply, if so, then this isn't really a free forum.
Chronic poster? I've been here for 2 years and post an average of 4 posts a day. lol. Ok. That is called being a member of a community. There are posters who have been here for a year or less who have way more posts then me. In the end so what? Who are you to tell anyone how much they can post. How about, you focus on your life and not worry what I or other posters do with our free time.
And look at you getting all angry. I knew it. You seriously can't handle being called our on your behavior. For someone who believes that she is better and nicer then everyone else, you sure do come off as childish and trollish. Oh and I doubt very much, that everyone agrees with you. Quit speaking for everyone else. If everyone else, thinks Todd or mine or whoevers comments were bad, they can speak for themseleves. You don't speak for everyone.
Oh and I'm not sour that this girl won. It doesn't bother me one bit. I'm sad that she lost her money, money that could have been used to give her and her children a decent life. You might want to quit telling others what they think and feel because you have no idea and it makes you look like a loon. You'd rather rant and rave instead of actually taking the time to read. Again, I know it can be difficult, but I have said already, that I felt bad for this woman. Do you understand that or is that too hard for you to comprehend?
And no one said that nobody can disagree with Todd. You thought his comment was nasty I didn't. You also don't get to tell other people if they are allowed to comment. You telling me to stop "poking" won't make me stop commenting. You don't get to dictate who is allowed to have an opinion.
We can all say what we would do with any large jackpot win. But gain, thats what we say when we haven't won. However, if/when we do, would we be as responsible as we say we would be now? A level head is good to have in any winning situation, but who is to say that we would be able to truely keep a level head after winning millions of dollars and nobody can dictate terms of anything to you.
Yeah, I know, I just let that stuff slide off my back -- no matter. The person IS a young fool.
Plus, it's a bit of an inside joke for this big Star Wars fan. Does anyone know the reference?
I had to google it. I didn't know which episode it was from or the reference. lol.
WOW....this was pretty heated. I think we can all agree that yes, she was young & foolish (which is typical of a teenager)...and no, it's not nice to wish bad things on others (like them not winning a jackpot ever) and that at the end of the day everything that happens is a lesson in life.
At least she was young when this happened...perhaps it will be a great learning experience for her in the future if she's blessed to come into another large sum of money.
If I were 16 and won a jackpot and didn't have a responsible family that knew how to handle money to help me that money would have been gone a LOT faster! I think she did better than most would have done at that age considering how materialistic kids are these days. I'm shocked she has anything left at all 6 years later. Haven't there been other winners here in the US that were broke in less than 6 years?
My question is this: is there an age limit to where she lives at all? Does anyone know?
You got it!
The Emperor (A.K.A, Senator Palpatine, Darth Sidious) is one of my favorite characters because he has some of the best lines. He was played by actor Ian McDiarmid, one of the few actors who appeared in both the original trilogy and the prequels.
The rest of the line I quoted (which, incidentally, is also applicable to this lottery "winner") is, "Young fool, only now, at the end, do you understand."
Unlike academics, where we are taught lessons followed by a test on what we've learned. In the real world Life gives the test first and the lesson comes later.
Here is a story about Michael Carroll who won £9.7 Million (tax free) in 2002 and he was broke four years later in 2006.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN4WCAxCwPM&
Must have been low quality (or waaaay overpriced) to spend $400G on any "habit" and still live.
LOL...I'm ashamed to say that this also crossed my mind....
I sympathize with her, at 16 that is a lot of money for a child to handle. If her parents were able to control it by setting up a trust fund that allowed her money in increments until she reached 18 or 21 would have been great. The parents may not have that authority or were not responsible parents.
This is interesting, he was threatened by gangsters, who claimed they were from the IRA, and demanded money.
Yeah, she certainly blew a lot on blow.
She is old enough to have kids and old enough to have millions of dollars. Plus, she is clearly an adult now. Criticism of her is fair game. From the article, she would likely agree with everything said about her here.
She had bad people around her that were unable to lead her down the right path
Really sad...Ima pray for them....
im interested how a trust fund for the kids , gets raided by her boyfreind? surely thats why you set up trust funds. so only the lawyer guy running it gets to raid it.
anyhow, till we have won the jackpot, we cant really judge. personally i was thinking at 16 she should have had a trust fund set up for herself. and gone to university; studied something she was interested in. not for the career , but for the personal development. i guess they dont have college degrees in drug taking tho.
we should all learn from it, incase we ever win.