Why some lottery winners keep their jackpot a secret — even from family

Winning a massive jackpot is a dream come true for many, but it also presents a unique challenge: how do you handle the life-changing windfall while maintaining normalcy in your personal relationships?

For some winners, keeping their newfound fortune a secret is the best way to protect their finances and avoid potential conflicts. Others choose to share the news, sometimes with unintended consequences.

A $22 million jackpot winner does his research

One of these recent jackpot winners, named John, appeared on The Ramsey Show, hosted by Dave Ramsey, and discussed how he has kept his $22 million lottery win a secret from his kids and parents. During his interview, the man said, “The first thing I did when I found out I'd won was research. You read one in five people lose their lottery winnings or go bankrupt in 10 years,” The Mirror reported.

During that research, he discovered something that would keep him from revealing the lottery win to anyone else besides his wife and one sibling. John said:

One of the things it said was you tell too many people, and you get too many people at your door asking for handouts and expecting you to pay for everything.

Because of that, John said he and his wife decided to “keep it under wraps,” as they have only told one of John's siblings and no one else. That list of people not knowing includes the couple's two teenage children.

Why not tell your own kids?

While not sharing the news with the whole world makes sense, why not share it with the two teens living in your house? John said they do intend to eventually tell their children about the big lottery win, but not until they’re mature enough to process it.

He told Ramsey that he wants his kids to find their own paths in life without waiting on an inheritance. He added:

I know that sounds strange, but we just don't want them to be growing up to be waiters. Just waiters for us to die so they can get our money.

Doing good with the winnings

Despite the big lottery win, John is still working because he loves his job. He told Ramsey that he did pay off his mortgage, but he has no plans of upgrading the two Toyotas he recently purchased with cash.

While they aren't sharing the news with anyone, John and his wife have secretly been using some of the money to help others. They recently paid for the roof repairs on his parents' home, who also don't know John won the lottery.

Doing his loved ones a favor

While some people might think it's not a smart idea to keep this information from his family, Ramsey commended John on his approach. Dave stated:

I like everything you're doing, and it's no one else's business. I think you're being wise. Because what you've discerned is some of the people in your life could not handle the equation.

By doing so, is John doing a favor for his loved ones? Ramsey believes so: "You're doing them a favor by not putting the strain on them, including teenagers."

Other jackpot winners who stayed silent

John isn't the only lottery winner who has chosen to keep their winnings a secret. There have been many others who, for various reasons, have taken a similar approach.

These winners often share common motivations: wanting to avoid the attention and complications that come with sudden wealth, preferring to live their lives privately, or simply seeking to maintain control over their newfound fortune. Here are a few notable cases of winners who chose to stay silent.

A New Hampshire woman sued for anonymity

In 2018, a New Hampshire woman won a huge $560 million Powerball jackpot. Under New Hampshire law, the names of lottery winners are public records, which means anyone who wins must have their identity revealed.

However, this lucky winner was worried about the risks associated with revealing she won over $500 million, which is rightfully so. What did she do? She filed a lawsuit seeking to protect her privacy, stating that revealing her identity would lead to unwanted attention and potential danger.

The legal battle took a while, but in the end the court ruled in her favor, allowing her to claim her winnings through a trust. This not only kept her identity hidden, but also allowed her to handle this huge amount of money without the eyes of the public (and media) on her.

This case also became a landmark example of how a person can successfully fight for their right to privacy when it comes to a lottery win, and many winners since have claimed their winnings using a trust.

Canadians can also keep secrets

Another winner many people talk about hails from Canada, who won a large lottery prize and proceeded to keep it a secret from his wife and kids for years. To do this, he chose not to immediately change his life.

The lucky man didn't go out and buy all these expensive items or even tell anyone about his newfound wealth. Instead, he continued to live a modest life. As I stated, his wife and kids didn't even know he won!

Instead, this man maintained the appearance of an average, middle-class family man. He used his winnings to make wise investments, quietly growing his fortune without attracting any attention.

The man did eventually reveal the truth to his family — who were both shocked and grateful for his silence. His silence allowed him to avoid the financial and emotional turmoil that can come with winning a big lottery jackpot.

In addition, it allowed him to make careful and wise financial decisions. He wasn't feeling the pressure that can typically come with winning a large lottery prize.

The consequences of keeping it a secret

While there are several advantages to keeping a lottery win a secret, it also comes with some challenges. Let's take a look at some of these challenges below.

Family tensions and distrust

Regardless of your intentions, there has to be some kind of mistrust when the truth eventually comes out. They have to be wondering, what else is this person hiding from me?

In John's case, he and his wife made the decision to wait until their children were older and more mature before telling them about the lottery win. However, not all lottery winners have been as fortunate in avoiding family discord.

One man who kept his lottery win a secret for many years found himself facing emotional confrontations with his children. His family was upset that he had not trusted them enough to share the news, and this created significant strain in their relationships.

In some cases, hiding a jackpot win can lead to resentment, and what was intended to be a smart financial decision may end up causing emotional damage.

Will you ever let it slip?

When you are trying to keep the lottery win a secret, it has to constantly be on your mind and has you worried about slipping up. No matter how careful you are, it can be hard to hide the effects of sudden wealth.

Small lifestyle changes — such as paying off debts, upgrading a home, or taking a long vacation — may raise suspicions among friends and family members. Even a small slip-up, like mentioning a big purchase by mistake, can cause others to question how they can afford this type of purchase. In some cases, these slip-ups can make the whole secret and story unravel.

How do you keep a jackpot win a secret?

If you happen to win a lottery jackpot and want to keep it private, here are some tips from financial experts to help maintain your privacy.

1. Sign the ticket anonymously – If your state lottery allows you to, experts say you should sign the winning ticket anonymously. Some states do allow winners to claim their winnings through a trust or by remaining anonymous. By doing so, it will keep your identity and prize private from anyone you don't want to know.
2. Hire a lawyer and a financial advisor – Do you know how to manage a large sum of money? Probably not, so you should hire professional advisors to help you every step of the way and ensure the money is handled wisely.
3. Avoid any extravagant lifestyle changes – If you want the lottery winnings to remain a secret, don't run out and buy a yacht. You wouldn't be buying a yacht or taking a three-month trip around the world with your normal 9-5 job, so don't do it now. Maintain that low-key lifestyle so as not to throw anyone off.
4. Keep your circle small – If you do share with anyone, keep that number low. The fewer people that know about your lottery win, the more likely it is to remain a secret.
5. Plan for the future – While you don't want to share the details with anyone, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be planning for the future. Like John above, invest those winnings wisely and start setting up trusts for family members. Make sure your wealth is preserved for future generations.

Would you keep your lottery win a secret?

Without a doubt, winning the lottery is a life-changing experience. However, it also comes with tough decisions. Whether to keep the news of a jackpot win secret or share it with loved ones is a deeply personal choice. Some winners have successfully kept their fortunes hidden, while others have struggled with the consequences of being so open about it.

So, the big question is: If you were to win big, would you keep it a secret or share the news with the world? Who would you tell? The choice is yours, but one thing is clear: winning the lottery is just the beginning of a new and complex journey. Regardless of the path you choose, it's important to play responsibly and plan wisely for the future.