Jack Whittaker, 2002 Powerball winner, dies at 72

Jack Whittaker won a $315 million Powerball jackpot in 2002, later receiving $113.4 million after taxes.

Whittaker was already a self-made millionaire, owning a construction business worth $17 million in West Virginia.

After winning, he moved to New York City but faced personal tragedies, including his wife Jewell leaving him in 2004 and divorcing in 2008.

Whittaker later stated in interviews that he wished he had torn up the lottery ticket.

His story resurfaced when Powerball launched in the UK on July 22, 2026, serving as a cautionary tale.