At first she thought she had won a free ticket. But she had truly become a multi-millionaire. Forseth told the California Lottery, “I was homeless six years ago. Along with being married and graduating associate’s this year, I also won $5 million. You never consider your chances of winning. It’s just arbitrary.
According to spokesperson Carolyn Becker’s statement in the lottery’s press release, “The sole purpose of the California Lottery is to generate additional funds for public education, and that is only possible with the Help from our players. Hearing a success story like this demonstrates the benefits of our competitions for winners and schools. Forseth made it clear that she did not want to speak to the media.
According to Yahoo Finance, winning the lottery has both big upsides and downsides. Positively, it can lead to an unexpected injection of cash which can lead to greater financial independence, the ability to repay debts, and the ability to invest or give to charities.
The unexpected windfall can also have negative psychological impacts, according to CNBC. Due to media attention, it can also strain relationships and lead to privacy issues. In addition, due to poor financial management, winners often run the risk of bankruptcy.
In addition, there is the so-called “curse of the lottery”. Many winners have suffered tragedy after their success, which can range from financial difficulties to personal challenges.