In 2013, the winner of a staggering $590 million lottery jackpot found herself entangled in a bitter feud with her own son, leading to a tragic end before the dispute could be resolved.
The woman won a staggering lottery winning in 2013,
Gloria MacKenzie, an 84-year-old woman, had hoped to enjoy her golden years in luxury and provide financial support to her children and grandchildren.
However, her stroke of luck quickly turned into a nightmare.
Gloria's life changed forever in May 2013 when she purchased a winning Powerball ticket after a kind stranger allowed her to cut in line.
With an after-tax sum of approximately $278 million, she decided to share half of her winnings with her son, Scott MacKenzie, who claimed to have contributed half the money used to buy the ticket.
Scott, a former shoe store assistant, was granted power of attorney over Gloria's finances and vowed to responsibly manage her vast fortune.
$590M lottery winner sues her son over $10M for misusing her funds
However, just five years later, Gloria took legal action against her son, seeking damages exceeding $10 million.
She accused Scott and his chosen investment manager of misusing the funds, alleging that they poorly invested the proceeds and lived off the money.
The situation became even more surprising when it was discovered that Scott had chosen Hank Madden, a local radio host who gives financial advice, instead of a well-known financial company.
The main issue at the center of the disagreement was Gloria's belief that her son should only receive half of her lottery winnings.
She claimed that Scott deceived her into believing he had contributed $5 towards buying the ticket, which he used to assert his ownership of half the prize money.
Gloria also alleged that the financial advisor chosen by Scott did not make wise investments, leading to significant losses.
Court records indicate that Gloria accused Scott of negligence, conspiring to deceive, violating his responsibilities as a fiduciary, and taking advantage of a vulnerable adult.
Scott's defense team countered the allegations, stating that he had acted following his mother's chosen investment objectives and had effectively preserved her wealth through conservative investment vehicles.
Scott's defense team contended that the lawsuit lacked a solid foundation because Gloria's accounts did not experience the level of growth she desired in retrospect.
The lawsuit has been unresolved due to her death at the age of 92.
The bitter legal battle between mother and son took an unfortunate turn when Gloria passed away at the age of 92, leaving the case unresolved.
Her obituary described her as a proud member of the American Legion Aux and the founder of the Gloria C. MacKenzie Foundation, which distributed grants to deserving communities in Northern Maine.
The feud that consumed her final years ended tragically, with no final ruling on the matter.
