“WILD” Willie Seeley’s life changed forever last month when he won a share in a Powerball jackpot worth $US450 million.
Now, the former warehouse manager wishes he could “disappear”.
Seeley and 15 co-workers from a New Jersey garage instantly became the envy of millions when they scooped the whopping win back in August. But merely a month after being thrust into the spotlight, a weary Willie and Donna say they are wishing for their old lives back. “There are days I wish we were back to just getting paid every two weeks,” he said in one of his few interviews since finding fame, NBC News reported.
You have to change your whole way of life, but we didn’t want to change the way we lived. We liked the way we lived.” Willie admitted he still doesn’t feel like a rich bloke: “I get cheap attacks ... It’s when you look at something you need, and think: Hell, I can’t afford that.”
The pair has turned down a number of reality TV offers from the likes of National Geographic, A & E and Ryan Seacrest Productions, and still, the phone continues to ring. They’ve also endured a never-ending procession of moochers, including complete strangers claiming to be relatives.
Donna even went so far as to call their winnings “the curse”, and the private pair say they are relieved to be handing the limelight over to the winner of last week’s $US400 million Powerball pot
Willie’s share of the $US450 million pot was divided by two other winning tickets, and then further divided by his 15 co-workers. After taxes his share was less than $US4 million, which he says “ain’t s*** in today’s economy.”
Yet, it was enough for the couple to quit their jobs, pay cash for two shiny new vehicles, re-roof their house, pay the mortgage off and provide financial assistance to family members.
And what’s the last thing he did with the leftover cash? He purchased a remote cabin out of town where he and his wife can escape the hype and the mounting number of “long-lost relatives”.
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