Lottery Winner in Court over Debt
10/06/2009 11:11:00
When the UK National Lottery launched back in 1994 it did so to a fanfare of realised dreams and a life most of us had only dreamed of. However this dream turned into a huge nightmare for one of the first ever millionaires created by the UK National Lottery and as the lottery winner is in court over debt it is clear that dreams this win did not make.
Antiques dealer Michael Antonucci should have been set for life after winning £2.8 million on the UK National Lottery back in 1995 but after diving straight into an extravagant lifestyle which included fast cards, luxury holidays and even a marriage to a glamorous topless model the money soon dwindled away.
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In fact, in six short years after his massive UK National Lottery win Mr Antonucci was sleeping on a camp bed in the office at a pub he ran in Plymouth and now he has really hit rock bottom after being found guilty of assault over a £400 debt.
Mr Antonucci owed John Langham money over a huge mirrored ceiling fitted above his £2,500 whirlpool bath which he bought from Mr Langham’s shop in Plymouth but after not being able to pay the debt physically attacked Mr Langham, something he denied in court.
He was ordered by the court to pay his victim £100, fined another £150 and told to pay prosecution costs of £455, amounts he surely would have had no problem paying after his lottery win and his poor financial judgement.
Since winning the UK National Lottery Mr Antonucci has run a massage parlour, a pub, nightclub and a pop music venue but all the ventures failed. He blew £750,000 buying a former convent, £250,000 on another home and £300,000 setting up a failed furniture store. A further £80,000 was blown on two Mercedes convertibles and even more on a Jet-ski and power boat.
More cash went on a failed pop band, designer clothes, holidays and breast implants for his wife, who kept their £350,000 home after their marriage of just 12 week.
It seems the old adage about a fool and his money have never been truer than when talking about this one time millionaire and surely there is a lesson there for all of us not to let any lottery win or windfall go to our heads too much!
Page Last Updated: 17/06/2010 12:39:22
