A dad who won a fortune on the lottery described it as the "worst thing that ever happened" to him before he tragically died.
Winning the lottery is a dream most of us aspire to achieve once in our lives, imagining the freedom that comes with never having to worry about money ever again.
And while there are undoubtedly many great things that come with vast wealth, some people who have won the lottery have found that money isn't really the answer to their problems that they thought it would be.
Billie Bob Harell Jr was one such winner after he pocketed a massive $31 million on the Texas Lotto, but described it as the "worst thing" to have happened to him after his life spiraled downward after his win, before he died 20 months later.
Billie Bob had been working shifts at a Home Depot store before his big win, in order to support his wife and children.
The former Marine's life changed in June 1997 when he stopped off at a gas station to buy some Quick Pick tickets ahead of a Texas Lotto draw.
He headed to work the following day after he didn't check his tickets immediately, according to Lotto Analyst, but realized he'd won when he saw the draw result numbers in the local newspaper.
Billie Bob, then 47, opted to take his $31 million in $1.24 million installments, saying at the time he collected his prize: "Everyone kept telling me it (life) would get better. I didn’t realize it would get this much better."
He spent some of his winnings on buying a ranch as well as homes and cars for his family members, and did good for his local community by making huge donations to the church as well as giving cash to people in need, according to The Houston Press.
However, things soon turned sour for Billie Bob after his spending reportedly "spiraled out of control", and things in his life also took a turn when his marriage to his wife Barbara Jean broke down just eight months after his win.
His misfortune was also allegedly compounded by hiring a company to manage his money, which claimed he would receive a lump sum rather than installments, which turned out to be a scam.
Tragically, in May 1999 - just 20 months after he won the millions - Billie Bob was found dead at his home from a gunshot wound, believed to have been self-inflicted.
According to reports from The Sun, he apparently left Barbara Jean a heartbreaking note that read: "I didn’t want this. I just wanted you."
Before his death, he also reportedly told a financial adviser: "Winning the lottery was the worst thing that ever happened to me."
It seems money really can't buy happiness after all.
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