Why do some lottery winners keep working?

[JamesDouglas]

I've always wondered why some lottery winners keep working. I don't mean the ones who've won a million, I mean the ones who've won 5 million+ who would be able to retire at any age that they won such a large sum of money. They say, "I'm still the same person," or "I'd be bored without work", or "I love my job", or "I've always wanted to open up my own business."

While it's admirable that they still want to work, it makes little sense. If they'd be bored without work, get a hobby, volunteer, travel the world, there's so much to do. Why would they want to open their own business? Is it worth risking some or all of their winnings and putting in countless hours in the hopes of maybe one day making profit? Why not just invest their winnings and live off the interest stress free?

 

[Mr. Piggy]

Not me. I would be retired as soon as I confirmed my win.

 

[freestuff]

Some people just don't know what to do with their lives without working (e.g. my parents).

 

[afterhours]

Some people just don't know what to do with their lives without working (e.g. my parents).

+1
they say at some point in your life you become a horse (and in the end a monkey)..so I guess if you are in a horse phase you just keep pulling this cart

 

[diesel11]

Why would they want to open their own business? Is it worth risking some or all of their winnings and putting in countless hours in the hopes of maybe one day making profit? Why not just invest their winnings and live off the interest stress free?

I always wanted to have my own very successful business but the cost of quitting the job and risking this wasn't suggesting that I should do this. If I win, I would love to start my own business as it I am passionate about "putting something together " myself, that generates money. If no profit, then yes, its a lesson learned but absolutely. Again, only some business ideas cost a lot of money, you can start a VERY profitable business with $ 500k. If I had 500k, I could easily be able to double in 2 years at least. Not just me, many other people may as well

 

[msog87]

I've always wondered why some lottery winners keep working. I don't mean the ones who've won a million, I mean the ones who've won 5 million+ who would be able to retire at any age that they won such a large sum of money. They say, "I'm still the same person," or "I'd be bored without work", or "I love my job", or "I've always wanted to open up my own business."

While it's admirable that they still want to work, it makes little sense. If they'd be bored without work, get a hobby, volunteer, travel the world, there's so much to do. Why would they want to open their own business? Is it worth risking some or all of their winnings and putting in countless hours in the hopes of maybe one day making profit? Why not just invest their winnings and live off the interest stress free?

most are married with kids so they are stuck in that life. the man or the woman whoever won cannot just get up and go have fun

 

[Imperius]

For many people (some would argue all), the most rewarding thing in life is being challenged, learning and growing, and building or being part of something larger than they are. Ironically, a stress-free life can be quite stressful if one hasn't planned how to fill the hours, which would likely be the case for a lottery winner. It's not uncommon for retirees (of "normal" retirement age) to decline in health and die soon after because they lose their sense of purpose after leaving the work force.

And while paid employment can be stressful, paradoxically for many it can be the least stressful way of getting the above benefits because the challenges are structured and well-defined with a good chance of success and little downside of failure. Plus they get the camaraderie of shared struggles with friends/co-workers they've known for years.

For others, their self-worth is highly tied to their income (not necessarily their net worth), therefore they feel where they "rank" in society is related to their wages.

 

[Aardvark154]

Basically what Imperius wrote.

 

[krayjee]

I always wanted to have my own very successful business but the cost of quitting the job and risking this wasn't suggesting that I should do this. If I win, I would love to start my own business as it I am passionate about "putting something together " myself, that generates money. If no profit, then yes, its a lesson learned but absolutely. Again, only some business ideas cost a lot of money, you can start a VERY profitable business with $ 500k. If I had 500k, I could easily be able to double in 2 years at least. Not just me, many other people may as well

Owning a business is every body's dream but it all depends on what biz. It is very stressful and it comes to a point sometimes the business is running you. Dealing with customers, employees and bills can drive you carzy at times. The only good thing is you have a little more freedom having nobody to report to. But then again when tough time comes you have to work extra hard with no days off and lots and lots of sleepless nights. I'd rather find a job I like doing and stay away from free of stresses once i left the work place for the day. Just like the saying if you like what you are doing you'll never work a day in your life plus you 'll always do well if you like what you are doing.

Staying home after wiinning lottery and such is the dream of most people, but you have to have something to do in life to keep yourself moving. Why do you think all those billionaires are still working? Try staying home with having nothing to do for about a month or so..... It ain't that easy as you think. vacations and such are only good for a short time. It drives me nuts if i have nothing to do for a week. Thank God we have internet and terb.

 

[Mod100]

I kept working. Twenty bucks just doesn't go far these days.

 

[krayjee]

I kept working. Twenty bucks just doesn't go far these days.

Well.. money is not everything if you know how to enjoy your life. The happiest people are those who knows how to make the best out of what they have. You have terb and you have all the power and the girls lining up to be with you. What more do you need?

 

[realthing69]

Some people just don't know what to do with their lives without working (e.g. my parents).

Same with my parents when they retired (not from winning the lottery). My dad became depressed and missed interacting with customers which he did for over 35+ years.

 

[Mervyn]

If you find yourself suddenly with enough money you don't have to worry about finances for the rest of your life, I would not want to start my own business, far too much stress not to mention there is a hell of a lot of work involved in a startup venture, and I would imagine it would be hard to put your nose to the grindstone when you could just take off for Jamaica at a moment's notice.

If I had a job I truly loved doing, I can see myself sticking around, but probably only on a part time basis.

If I was employed in a job I hated, I'd give my notice and get out as soon as possible, and then either find a hobby to occupy my time, or better yet find some suitable volunteer work.

 

[krayjee]

Same with my parents when they retired. My dad became depressed and missed interacting with customers which he did for over 35+ years.

I think I have read somewhere most of the retired people died within 5-6 yrs of their retiremment. No wonder some guys work till to their 80s. I was forced to retire by my beloved Ex for the past 2 yrs and was going crazy until I went to ESL school to upgrade my English writing skills a bit so I can write some stories here in terb. So far so good. oh btw..ESL school is not a bad place to meet some ladies..lol..

 

[le.broke.gear]

Depending on the amount that I win, I'd continue to work just to fill my days with purpose. Some times it's nice to relax but there are days where I'm just itching to do some work.

 

[DanJ]

I'm in a unionized hourly paid job, with decent seniority. I'd be out of the way in a heartbeat. My job, sad to say, is just a job, a means to pay for life. My wife really enjoys her job and would likely keep it. If I won something like the $50M Lotto Max, I would probably throw $10M of it into a charity foundation that I would start. I would talk to a lot of the philanthropists I always hear about in my area and see what they do with their foundations, how they come up with events to raise more money and how they decide which charities to donate to.

 

[harryass]

they are stupid and have no life or friends outsude of work.

 

[le.broke.gear]

they are stupid and have no life or friends outsude of work.

Yes. That's exactly why. My daily schedule is as follows; wake up, shower, eat breakfast, go to work, eat lunch, come home, eat dinner, go to sleep, and repeat. I only speak with my colleagues at work, outside of that I have no other form of human interaction. I am a complete loner...

 

[LKD]

human behaviour is such that you tend to slack off and get lazy if it ain't a job. Hobbies can keep you busy but it just isnt' the same as a 9-5 job you have to report to. They say the people who live the longest keep working waaaayyy past their retirement age. You have to keep your mind working

 

[fuji]

I would take an extended vacation but eventually, after a year perhaps, I would want something to do.