Colorado homeless man wins $500,000 in lottery

Comment #36

myturn — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 02:29:26 GMT

I am happy for him. I just wish state lotteries would put the safety and security, including the financial security of winners first, especially in cases like this.

Who benefits from his identity being revealed? Certainly not the winner, it makes him a sitting duck. I hope he will be strong enough to resist all the requests for help . I also hope he is smart enough to resist all the investment opportunities , that will be offered to him.

Comment #35

myturn — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 21:53:05 GMT

I hope he gets independent, professional legal and financial advice. This is the last chance saloon, I hope he doesn't squander it.

Comment #34

CSense — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 15:32:14 GMT

Congratulations to Michael Engfors.

Good things really do comes to people who waited with patience.

Comment #33

FlamingoGirl — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 14:41:21 GMT

I hope he spends it well so he wont go homeless anymore.

Comment #32

Candy-Lane — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 23:19:37 GMT

So far, this is my favorite feel good story this Christmas season.

Many Congrats to the lucky lottery winner

Comment #31

Jake — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 04:47:54 GMT

I would gladly give up five times his winnings for one more chance to share time and space with my dad. If money can bring dad and daughter back together, may the Angels intervene to help grant his wish.

Comment #30

GGStarlings — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 03:04:53 GMT

Wow, what a great story! Congrats Mr. Engfors

Comment #29

HaveABall — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 05:24:59 GMT

A moot point, since this lottery winner won't receive anything close to $500K for spending/investing/saving.

Comment #28

HaveABall — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 05:22:31 GMT

Yes, gy65, it's lovely amount. It is enough in case he is unable to work a job. So, perhaps this transient, modest lottery winner could rent a room for $500/month (utilities included) in some homeowner's 2000 sq. ft. home. Anywhere he chooses. This way, if one town doesn't provide much joy, after 6 months or so, he could search for the same type of arrangement in a different state that his recent research at a local library shows is desirable to him.

Anyhow, I hope he doesn't have to wait 45... [ More ]

Comment #27

travelintrucker — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 00:30:40 GMT

A bout with alcoholism? It's going to be hard to fight the bottle. I wonder how many bottles of Jack you can buy with $500,000.

Comment #26

ronki — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 20:10:08 GMT

Good thing he is not homeless in NC he would still be scratching

Comment #25

gy65 — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 18:59:52 GMT

$1600 a month isn't a much to live on

Correct . . but a lot of folks making $10 an hour have adapted.

Comment #24

KY Floyd — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 17:49:54 GMT

$350,000 invested in VWEAX would provide around $1,600 before-tax monthly dividends.

$1600 a month isn't a much to live on even if it's after taxes.

Comment #23

rochanda12 — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 15:39:58 GMT

Great story .I love to here stories like this especially around Christmas .It gives us all hope that miracles do happen when u think positive,have faith and believe.Congrats Michael Engfors and I hope he goes buy himself a home and transportation.

Comment #22

gy65 — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 15:19:31 GMT

after taxes, the 500k is not that much to live on

$350,000 invested in VWEAX would provide around $1,600 before-tax monthly dividends.

Comment #21

Tialuvslotto — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 13:31:36 GMT

Looks like his luck is beginning to change for the better! Best Wishes to him.

Comment #20

JoeCanWin — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 05:29:23 GMT

Will his daughter take him in? Maybe, but getting to know each other after 20 years seems more important.

He could just rent a nice place close to her. IMHO he should not buy a house! After taxes on the win and a house he will be broke. We don't want that.

I just wish him the best and hopefully his daughter will give him a second chance.

At least now he has the opportunity to take that chance.

He has the ball now...

Comment #19

JoeCanWin — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 05:08:57 GMT

Good, inspiring story.

Hi Sully16,

Although I don't comment much, I do read most stories and the comments left by members.

Anyway, I was driving around today running errands and Wish You Were Here came on my radio and I immediately thought of your reference to it in your sig.

I think the following is almost right before the line you have in your sig and for some reason I remembered it:

Did they get you to trade ... your heroes for ghosts?

It just stayed stuck in my... [ More ]

Comment #18

noise-gate — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 03:47:40 GMT

I wish nothing but the very best for this Gentleman.

Somewhere over the Rainbow......

Comment #17

plumsage — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 00:25:04 GMT

What a feel good story. Hopefully things will get even better for him here on out.

Comment #16

Redd55 — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 00:16:35 GMT

Hope he gets and/or stays sober and his daughter takes him in because after taxes, the 500k is not that much to live on for the rest of your life.

Comment #15

gatorsrok — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 23:43:51 GMT

It looks like he was a well deserving winner. Although, I kind of question the wisdom of buying lotto tickets if you are poor and homeless. Other homeless people should not see this as an example of how to spend their limited funds.

Comment #14

music* — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 22:58:04 GMT

Good Luck to Michael Engfors!! Thank God for St.Mary's Catholic Church.

I hope that he spends what he keeps after taxes wisely.

Comment #13

jeannieg1968 — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 19:01:28 GMT

No better time to win! many blessing and best wishes. He started a journey and came to end of that road and now he will begin new journey, may it be beautiful filled with scenic roads. What a wonderful story.

Comment #12

luckyshoes — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:50:15 GMT

Cool ! Sounds like his priorities are in order.

Comment #11

sully16 — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:24:53 GMT

I hope good things start to come his way.

Comment #10

gocart1 — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 17:00:41 GMT

So great to hear at this time of the year..AMEN..

Comment #9

lejardin — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 16:54:58 GMT

NOW THIS IS WHAT THE LOTTERY IS FOR! Anybody can win and this man's win is wonderful, a feel good story.

This story was just on Fox News

Comment #8

Gleno — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 16:39:46 GMT

He was given another chance no doubt. So wish him well on his new found prosperity.

Hope he gets into a recovery program to deal with his addiction, or he could end up homeless again.

He must have done some praying before sleeping on the floor at St. Mary's Church.

Comment #7

cbr$ — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 15:32:54 GMT

Congratulation to Michael Engfors on his win. Couldn't happen at a better time. He may be interested in re-connecting with his daughter, hopefully she feels the same after 20 years.

Comment #6

Rman313 — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 15:21:55 GMT

Thats great! Never give up on your dream! You never know what could or can happen! He is a PRIME example! If I was him I would buy a small house. That would be a good investment on his money. CONGRATS

Comment #5

Get paid — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 15:14:18 GMT

Wow great snip *ng story. Congrats to the winner.

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

Comment #4

dr65 — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 14:45:38 GMT

Great story! A fresh start and for what he's been through, he sure deserves it. Very, very happy for this man!

Keep going, no matter how bad things seem, there is light at the end of the tunnel even if it's not what's expected.

Life is full of ups and downs..some people have more downs than ups...ignore who is bad for you - after you give them

a piece of your mind, write them off....ignore who seems to be good for you but isn't, discover the difference...see what

people are and who i... [ More ]

Comment #3

Braco — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 13:39:54 GMT

TYTYTY!!!! 3 IN PERFECT WAYS UNDER GRACE!!! CONGRADULATIONS WHAT A WONDERFUL FRESH START FOR THIS PERSON!!!! MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU!!!!!! 3

Comment #2

mypiemaster — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 12:50:38 GMT

If anybody should know the value of money, it should be you. Congrats and don't screw it up.

Comment #1

s5thomps — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 12:43:43 GMT

Congrats! Spend Wisely

Colorado homeless man wins $500,000 in lottery

Lottery Post — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 12:39:21 GMT

A Colorado man who had been homeless for more than six years finally got a little bit of luck Friday when he won $500,000 on a scratch-off lottery ticket.

Michael Engfors, 60, was born and raised in Aspen. After struggling with alcoholism, losing his business, and getting a divorce, he has been homeless for more than six years.

Michael has seen a bottom that has pushed him right to the edge, Jeremy Kowalis with the Aspen Homeless Shelter said. But Michael never gave up. He knew that if he... [ More ]