Andrew Jackson Whittaker Jr. (1947 - 2020)

Born 9 Oct 1947 in Jumping Branch, Summers, West Virginia, United States

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Biography

Jack Whittaker Jr. is Notable.

Andrew Jackson Whittaker, Jr. was born on 09 October 1947 and his parents were Ruby C. (Upton) and Andrew J. Whittaker, Sr. (1920–1979).

He was an American businessman in the construction industry who already had a net worth of over $17 million,

He was not a regular lottery player but because the jackpot was so high, he bought $100 in lottery tickets on Christmas Eve 2002 at C & L SuperServ market in Hurricane, West Virginia, USA. The jackpot that Christmas Day (before taxes) was a $314.9 million annuity or $170.5 million cash and he had the winning Quick Pick ticket! He chose the cash option of $113,386,407, after taxes. At the time, his win of US$314.9 million in the Powerball multi-state lottery was the largest jackpot ever won by a single winning ticket in the history of American lottery. ^[1]

For the woman who sold him the winning ticket, he purchased a $123,000 house and a new Jeep Grand Cherokee and gave her a check for $44,000.

He then purchased a Lamborghini for himself and drove it through his neighborhood throwing cash.

He also pledged 10% of his winnings to Christian charities in southern West Virginia, He donated $14 million to establish the Jack Whittaker Foundation - a non-profit organization that provides food and clothing to low-income families in rural West Virginia.

After winning the lottery, he was robbed a few times, had several brushes with the law and personal tragedies including ...

- 2004/Sep/16 Jesse Tribble @18, an on-and-off-again boyfriend of Whittaker's granddaughter, Brandi Bragg, was found dead of an overdose in Whittaker's home.

- 2004/Dec/20 His granddaughter, Brandi Bragg @17, was found dead on the property of a male friend after being reported missing on December 9. Her body was wrapped in a plastic tarpaulin and dumped behind a junked van. Drugs were found in her system, but the cause of death was listed as "undetermined". No one was charged with a crime.

- 2009/Jul/05 His daughter, Ginger (Whittaker) Bragg @42 was found dead. No explanation was given, but officials did not suspect foul play.

- 2016/Dec/02 @7a.m. his uninsured home in Bland County, Virginia, was reported to be on fire. When firefighters arrived, the home was fully engulfed, and the house was deemed a total loss. His wife was home when the fire broke out, but she was able to make it out safely and no injuries were reported.

In 2007 he claimed he was broke.

About 2009 he moved from West Virginia to Virginia, USA.

Following a long illness, he died on 27 June 2020. ^[2] No further details were given. He was buried at Quesenberry Cemetery, Jumping Branch, Summers County, West Virginia, USA. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Whittaker_(lottery_winner)
2. ↑ "Famous Powerball winner has died" published in West Virginia MetroNews on 2020/Jun/29
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #66963228 for Andrew Jackson “Jack” Whittaker, Jr., b: 09 Oct 1947; d: 27 Jun 2020; buried: Quesenberry Cemetery, Jumping Branch, Summers County, West Virginia, USA; with personal & gravestone photos