Man who won £39million on lottery admits to making very odd first purchase
While most people who win the lottery think of a car or a home for their first purchase, one man who hit the jackpot had an altogether different idea for how he wanted to spend the first of his winnings.
John Falcon was just 44 when he took home the $50 million (£34.5m) jackpot - the New York Lottery's largest-ever prize at the time. The New Yorker, from Puerto Rico originally, was trying to make it as an actor in the Big Apple when he won big in 1999.
He decided his first use of his winnings would be a shiny new set of teeth, setting him back a cool $175,000 (£105,500). He also went on to buy himself a luxury apartment in Trump Tower, describing it as "nothing truly extravagant", saying he just "wanted to buy a house".
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John Falcon won the New York Lottery's largest ever jackpot at the time in 1999 (Winnerineverysense/TikTok)But has issued a word of warning for other lottery winners, saying it's important for them to learn how to say "no" in the early days of their win. Speaking to The Sun he said: "Everyone assumes it's an endless amount of money but it takes some holding onto... I was 44 when I won the lottery, if I had been 24 - I would be broke now and working at a BBQ joint."
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Fast forward to now, nearly 25 years later, and John admits that his easy life has dulled his creative spark. Not one to shy away from splurging, John initially hired his own theatres to run his musical performances. But with the life-changing money in his bank and days as a struggling artist behind him, he said he often skipped out on doing the things that feed his passions, instead opting to go on a shopping spree and flex his newfound wealth.
Not long after his huge win, John went to see an English musical on Broadway called 'Spend Spend Spend' that, fittingly, follows the story of a factory worker turned lottery winner who blew it all on champagne, fun and cars. It acted as a word of warning to the newly rich artist, who now looks back and can warn winners about the importance of hiring someone to help them manage their newfound wealth.
Along with his new teeth, John also bought himself an apartment in Trump Tower (Pix11/Youtube)He also suggests taking the money in instalments rather than all at once and being cautious of investment opportunities. The millionaire himself has financial advisors who assist him in making decisions, and he chose to receive his money over 26 years instead of as a lump sum. He warns other big winners that a tax attorney, a good accountant, and a bookkeeper are absolutely necessary for tracking finances and is the reason why he is "so happy".
Asked back in 2005 whether he was content following his big win, John said: "If you're asking me does money buy happiness... the answer to that would be yes, it does. Everything else is emotional, philosophical nonsense."
Reflecting later down the line, he noted "money always makes things better". Adding: "I have not one regret. Should I?" before pausing to add: "Except probably buying a great apartment in the Trump Tower."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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