“Winning the lottery changed our lives for the worse,” says Jodie, whose husband, Edwin, hit a $ 25 million jackpot when he and 14 co-workers bought tickets in a pool. Since Edwin got his after-tax share of the winnings, Jodie says he’s acted like it’s only his money, and that their marriage has gone downhill fast with divorce threatened numerous times.
“He thought it was his money and nobody was going to tell him what to do with it. The only thing I really requested is that we purchase a home,” Jodie says. “I found out he paid for his brother’s house. I couldn’t believe he would just hand over half a million dollars and put it in under someone else’s name. I absolutely think he got rid of the money so i wouldn’t have any access to it.”
But Edwin says his wife practically has dollar signs dancing in her head, and that their marriage was in trouble before the winning lottery ticket. “When I won the lottery, she was more excited than me. I think that’s why she’s with me,” he says, claiming that he gave her $ 500,000 of the lottery winnings and she has squandered it. Looking back on their courtship, he recalls, “I had no freedom. Jodie had control over me. I felt like I was under house arrest. She always put me on the spot and made me feel like I do everything wrong.”
Edwin sums up where the marriage stands in his eyes: “I want to get help to make us better, but i feel like there is no hope.”
They turn to Dr. Phil for help on Friday’s show — check local listings here.
