Tag: money

  • 10 Richest Athletes in the World

    10 Richest Athletes in the World

    Athletes across the world can make more in one day than most of us can dream of making in a lifetime. Those who are blessed with the gift of athleticism will also become some of the biggest superstars in the world. So, we’re about to answer the question that’s often on everyone’s lips, and show you the 10 richest athletes in the world.

    1. Michael Jordan – $1 Billion Net Worth

    image via awesomeish.com
    image via awesomeish.com

    Michael Jordan made a slam dunk when he entered the world of basketball, as he is the first billionaire athlete. According to Forbes’ 2015 rich list, the gifted sports star is an entrepreneur, and has earned approximately $80 to £100 million every year from his various business ventures and endorsements.

    He makes an incredible $60 million per year from Nike/Jordan brand royalties alone, and his NBA career also added an amazing $90,235,000 to his bank account.

    2. Michael Schumacher – $800 Million Net Worth

    Michael Schumacher
    image via www.telegraph.co.uk

    Michael Schumacher is considered by many as the most successful Formula One driver in history – and that is most definitely reflected in his bank balance. He’s now worth an incredible $800 million, as he was paid $10 million per year by Shell to wear a hat with the company’s logo at most public appearances.

    3. Arnold Palmer – $675 Million

    Arnold Palmer
    image via www.golfdigest.com

    Arnold Palmer is the greatest golf players of all time, winning the Championship Tour 10 times and the PGA tour 62 times. On top of a successful golf career, he is also a rather successful entrepreneur, as he has a drinks company that’s worth over $200 million. His name is also licensed in over 400 apparel and leather goods stores across Asia.

    4. Tiger Woods – $550 Million

    Tiger Woods
    image via aaww.org

    Tiger Woods is synonymous with golf, and vice versa. While Arnold Palmer might be the most successful golfer in history, it’s pretty fair to say that Woods is the most famous on and off the golf course. He has been ranked #1 in the world rankings for more consecutive weeks more than any other golfer, and was the first athlete to earn $1 billion in salary and endorsements.
    So, why isn’t he tied with Michael Jordan? Well, $100 million was deducted from his bank account when he divorced Elin Nordegren in 2010.

    5. Magic Johnson -$500 Million Net Worth

    Magic Johnson
    image via atlantablackstar.com

    It looks as though basketball and golf are most definitely the best two sports to become a pro, if the rich list is anything to go by. Magic Johnson, the retired Lakers basketball player, earned a whopping $18 million salary during his career, and earned several million more in endorsements. He also owns his own record label, Magic Johnson Music, and is a successful motivational speaker.

    6. Floyd Mayweather – $400 Million Net Worth

    Floyd Mayweather
    image via www.huffingtonpost.com

    Floyd Mayweather is one of the most tactical boxers in the sport, and this ability has made him arguably one of the greatest fighters in boxing. His bravado, skill and smarts have resulted in him winning six boxing championships in five different weight classes, as well as $400 million. He is the highest paid athlete in sport, as he can demand a significant salary, without the need for endorsements.

    7. Shaquille O’Neal – $350 Million Net Worth

    image via www.limitlessonline.co.uk
    image via www.limitlessonline.co.uk

    Shaquille O’Neal is the third basketball star on the rich list, and earned $292,198,327 in his career alone. He also secured $100 million when he signed a five-year contract with Miami Heat. The retired player is also a successful TV host and entrepreneur, and he has appeared in many commercials throughout his career.

    8. David Beckham – $350 Million Net Worth

    image via www.highsnobiety.com
    image via www.highsnobiety.com

    David Beckham is one of the most famous players in football (soccer). A talented athlete on the pitch, and a celebrity off it, he is one of the biggest endorsers in the world. The former England Captain and Manchester United Star star also invests his money in the sport, and his business group, Beckham Miami United, has agreed to finance a $250 million stadium in Florida, and will hold 20,000 spectators.

    9. Greg Norman – $300 Million Net Worth

    image via www.golfgrinder.com
    image via www.golfgrinder.com

    Greg Norman has won 20 PGA tours in his career, and was even inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001. His career and entrepreneurial ventures have also resulted in him totalling a net worth of $300 million.

    10. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – $300 Million Net Worth

    Image via www.huffingtonpost.com
    Image via www.huffingtonpost.com

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. started his Nascar career at the age of just 17 years old. Little did he know when starting his career that he would one day become one of the highest paid athletes of all time, as he earned an unfathomable $25.9 million in 2014 alone. He also owns his own media production company, Hammerhead Entertainment, and has partnered with a group of investors who are building Alabama Motorsports Park.

    Want to learn more about your favourite stars? Read 10 Rags-to-Riches Stories That Will Inspire You.

  • 10 Rags-to-Riches Stories to Inspire You

    10 Rags-to-Riches Stories to Inspire You

    Never been to university? Grew up in poverty? So what! You can still be a success. All you need is ambition and passion, and the rest really will follow. Don’t believe us? Fine. Just take a look at these 10 rags to riches and entrepreneurial stories that will inspire you.

    1. J.K. Rowling – $1 Billion

    J.K. Rowling
    image via www.telegraph.co.uk

    J.K. Rowling is one of the most inspirational people in popular culture – not just for creating the wonderful Harry Potter series, but she defied the odds to become the richest author of all time. Rowling moved to Portugal to pursue her dream of becoming an English teacher, and it was there she fell in love with a journalist. The couple went onto have a daughter, Jessica, but the marriage later ended in divorce.

    So she chose to move back to her native Scotland to start a new life – but the move led to Rowling resulted in her becoming dependent on welfare benefits. In between her parental duties, she would write Harry Potter – completely unaware that one day the boy wizard and his magical friends would be adored by millions of people across the world.

    The book was rejected many times until it was finally published. She is now has a net worth of $1 billion. That’s some serious cash – and proof that anyone can make their dreams come true! Her skin is great too. If you would like skin that is good, Loxa Beauty CBD Cosmetics UK is the brand for you. 

    2. Steve Jobs – $5.7 Billion

    Steve Jobs
    image via www.projectcasting.com

    It is hard to believe Apple started in a garage, but that’s exactly what happened. With no way to afford a college tuition, the late, great Steve Jobs took his future into his own hands and started the company in his parents’ garage, after his adopted father, Paul Jobs, shown him how to take apart and rebuild electronics.

    With little knowledge, but a passion and interest, Steve Jobs went onto create some of the coolest, most ground-breaking technology products the world had ever seen, such as the 1984 Macintosh to the latest iPhone smartphones.

    3. Oprah Winfrey – $2.9 Billion

    Oprah Winfrey
    image via blackdoctor.org

    Many people across the world are often inspired by Oprah Winfrey – and the reason is because she is a very inspirational woman. Until the age of six years old, she was raised by her grandmother, as her teenage parents were not emotionally mature enough to care for her. She later lived with her mother in Milwaukee, and shown an aptitude for education. Her studies were, however, interrupted as her mother was unable to cope, and so she was sent to live with her father, Vernon, in Nashville, Tennessee.

    After dealing with many years of physical abuse, Oprah Winfrey ran away from home at the age of 13. However, she defied the odds and went onto become the most successful talk show host of all time, using her own struggles to inspire others.

    4. Ralph Lauren – $7.1 Billion

    image via dirckhalstead.net
    image via dirckhalstead.net

    Ralph Lauren is the man behind the luxury clothing line. He was raised in the Bronx, New York, by his parents who were Russian immigrants. With finances tight, he never even had his own bedroom growing up, and was forced to start work before he was 13 years old.

    What Ralph did have was excellent taste, a passion for fashion and a confidence in his own ability. He believed in himself so much that he took out a $50,000 loan to launch his own clothing line – and is now the owner of one of the most recognisable fashion brands in the world.

    5. Manny Pacquiao – $300 Million

    Manny Pacquiao
    image via www.hbo.com

    It’s not hard to see why Filipinos are so proud of Manny Pacquiao. The famous boxer once lived on the Kibawe streets, and would sell bread and doughnuts to make some cash. Whilst homeless, he would often be forced into fights with other street vendors, which was undoubtedly the start of his fantastic boxing career.

    He is now deemed one of the greatest boxers of all time, as he is the only boxer in the world who has won world titles in 8 weight divisions, and is the  #2 highest paid boxer on the planet – after Floyd Mayweather, of course.

    6. Eminem – $140 Million

    Eminem
    image via www.inquisitr.com

    Marshall Mathers, known to the world as Eminem, rags to riches story is so powerful that it was the basis of the semi-biographical movie, 8 Mile, which the rapper starred in. Growing up in a trailer park in Detroit, Eminem’s goal was to make it in a black music industry as a white rapper. He faced much rejection and bullying for pursuing his dreams, but with sheer ambition and a confidence in his dreams, Marshall continued rapping. He believed in himself so much that he dropped out of high school and juggled many jobs just to keep a roof over his head and food on the table.

    His hard work did, however, pay off, as he was awarded second place in the 1997 Rap Olympics, and caught the eye of the respected hip hop producer and rapper, Dr. Dre. Eminem, who also adopted the name Slim Shady, was the best-selling musician of the 2000s, and is now one of the most respected artists in the rap industry, selling 115 million albums.

    7. Steven Spielberg – $3.6 Billion

    Steven Spielberg
    image via www.konbini.com

    If you have ever seen movies Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan or Jurassic Park, you will know why Steven Spielberg is one of the most popular directors in history. As a child, he was cruelly bullied by other children for being an Orthodox Jew, but he did find join in creating movies at a very early age, and made his first amateur movie at just 16 years old. Whilst he did graduate from high school, his low grade average prevented him from attending film school.

    He therefore attended California State University, but dropped out when he was offered a seven year contract with Universal Studios – and the rest, as they say, is history.

    8. Jay-Z – $560 Million

    Jay-z
    image via www.rollingstone.com

    Shawn Carter, known to the world as Jay-Z, never started life wanting to be a hip hop artist. After his father abandoned the family home, Shawn chose to take control of their finances by becoming a drug dealer, selling crack cocaine on the city streets of Brooklyn, New York. A career path that led to him being shot at.

    To Shawn, rapping was simply a hobby, but it was in the mid-90s when he realised he could make a career out of it, after many people raved about his talent. Instead of heading to a record label to pursue his dream, he chose to launch his own, which also launched the careers of many successful rappers. The move paid off, and he is now worth an estimated $500 million, after selling 75 million albums and winning 17 Grammy Awards.

    9. Jim Carrey – $150 Million

    Jim Carrey
    image via loopele.com

    Jim Carrey, born James Eugene Carrey, is one of the most loved comedy actors in entertainment, but his journey to success did not come easy. After his father lost his job as an accountant when Jim was a teenager, Jim was forced to work an eight hour shift each day at the Titan Wheels Factory, on top of attending school. His family responsibilities, however, resulted in him dropping out of school.

    He later moved out of the family home and lived in a camper van, spending many a night performing stand-up routines. He eventually landed a spot on The Duck Factory, a US sitcom, which was a sign of big things to come for the actor. His big break came when he was cast in the skit show In Living Colors, as the world paid attention to his comic timing. He is now most recognisable for movies such as Dumb and Dumber, The Mask and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

    10. Roman Abramovich – $9 Billion

    Roman Abramovich
    image via www.telegraph.co.uk

    Roman Abramovich sadly became an orphan at the age of just four years old, and was raised by his aunt and uncle, who lived on an oil settlement in the south of the Arctic Circle. The town was infested by mosquitoes, and temperatures could often fall below -30 degrees Celsius.

    Despite his environment, Roman shown signs of ambition from a young age, and would sell plastic ducks and second-hand car tyres in his spare time. As his business grew, so did his ambition, and he went onto manage Sibneft, an oil giant, before taking over the company in 1995. He later shown further business acumen, investing in ventures such as Russian Aluminium and the steelmakers Evraz Group. Roman Abramovich is now the 5th richest person in Russia, and one of the wealthiest men in the world.

    Now you know some of the most inspirational people on the planet, it’s time to check out some of the most foolish. Read about the 10 silliest lottery winners in history.

  • 20 Unbelievable Money Facts to Blow Your Mind

    20 Unbelievable Money Facts to Blow Your Mind

    The Big Money Guide loves a bit of trivia, which is why we are offer 20 unbelievable money facts that will blow your mind. Seriously, these facts are crazy!

    1. US Money

    US Dollars
    image via www.cnbc.com

    There is approximately 1,200,000,000,000 of US money in circulation. That’s a lot of money, right? Too bad nobody knows where 85% of the money actually is.

    Also, if you have £10 in your pocket, you are wealthier than a quarter of Americans!

    2. Rich People

    The richest 85 people in the world have just bas much money as the poorest 3.5 billion in the world.

    3. Monopoly Money

    Everyone loves Monopoly, don’t they? So most people are probably aware they receive £1,500 at the start of the board game. What’s even more surprising is the amount is the current average weekly rent fee in central London. Sheesh!

    4. Tourism

    There is a lot of money to be made in the travel industry! So much so that one in 11 people on the planet earn money from tourism.

    5. Cornish Pasties

    Cornish pasties
    image via cornishpasties.com

    Cornish pasties are a traditional English delicacy – and us Brits just can’t seem to get enough of them, as they make more money each year that Tonga, Micronesia or the Cook Islands.

    6. Bill Gates’ Fortune

    If Bill Gates was to donate his entire fortune to the US government, it would only cover the country’s national deficit for 15 days.

    7. Izikhothane

    Have you ever heard of Izikhothane? You will want to. They are a South African gang/dance group who like to meet in car parks, cover themselves in custard and burn massive wads of money. Yeah, that’s right, we said custard!

    It’s basically all about who is the wealthiest member of the group, as they will each burn expensive items to prove they are the wealthiest person. Many of the dance battles are performed using not just money but mobile phones, clothes or alcohol. An opponent is more likely to win if the item they destroy is more expensive that their competitors.

    8. Payday Loans

    Borrowing £400 from Wonga at its standard payday loan rate for seven years would result in a person owing more than Britain’s national debt. That is some interest rate!

    9. 1p Coins

    pennies
    image via deadcurious.com

    Do you know those 1p coins you never pick up off the ground? Well, it’s time to start saving them, as there are £100 million worth of penny coins in circulation in the UK.

    10. The World’s Most Expensive Phone Number

    Do you know what the world’s most expensive phone number is? It’s 666-6666 and it was sold for an incredible £1.5 million in 2006. We wonder if it takes you straight through to the devil himself?

    11. Banknote Bacteria

    Banknotes are bound to be full of so much bacteria, as they pass to so many people over the years. What’s the most common form of bacteria found on banknotes? It’s the bacteria that causes acne.

    12. Santa Claus

    In 2009, a man dressed up as Santa Claus to rob a bank in Tennessee. Why did he rob the bank? He claimed he needed the money to pay his elves. Maybe Santa was in debt with one of those expensive payday loans!

    13. Hewlett-Packard Printer Ink

    It is 20 times more expensive to buy Hewlett-Packard printer ink than it is to buy a 2003 vintage bottle of Dom Perignon champagne.

    14. Brian & Helen

    Is your name Brian or Helen? The chances are you have amazing credit, as the best credit profiles in the UK are held by men and women with those two names.

    15. The World’s Most Expensive Car

    1957 Ferrari Testarossa
    image via becuo.com

    The 1957 Ferrari Testarossa is the most expensive car in the world, selling for £10,750,000 in 2011.

    16. Ransom Tax

    Even kidnappers have to pay tax in America, as their payments are tax-deductible.

    17. The World’s Most Expensive Sheep

    Now you know what they world’s most expensive car is, we bet you are dying to know what the world’s most expensive sheep is, aren’t you. It’s like we read your mind. Well, just so you know, it cost £231,000 and was sold back in 2009.

    18. Dog & Cat Currency

    You could once enter the Tower of London for free if you brought in a dog or car to feed the lions.

    19. Stanley Kubrick

    Stanley Kubrick claimed he financed his first movies by playing illegal chess for cash in New York parks.

    20. The World’s Most Expensive Coffee

    Love coffee? You would probably love to try the world’s most expensive coffee, then. Well, that is until you find out it is actually made from the dung of Thai elephants. Yeah, we’ll stick to Nescafe, thanks.

    The Big Money Guide is the ultimate money resource. Take a look at 10 Actors Who Took a Pay Cut for an Oscar

  • 10 Actors Who Took a Pay Cut for an Oscar

    10 Actors Who Took a Pay Cut for an Oscar

    An Academy Award or the chance to work with an acclaimed director can often be worth more than a star’s big pay cheque. You are only as good as your last film, and the following actors chose to took a pay cut – or no salary at all – for a chance to star in a critically-acclaimed movie.

    Take a look at the 10 actors who took a pay cut for an Oscar.

    1. Jonah Hill

    Jonah Hill
    image via theskinny.co.uk

    Jonah Hill stated he would sell his house and give away all his money just to work with Martin Scorsese, so when the opportunity to star in Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street arose, he was willing to take a pretty big pay cut.

    How much did he make from the movie? Just $60,000 (£36,200). To put that into perspective for you, Leonardo DiCaprio made $10,000,000.

    The pay cut paid off, though, as the movie earned Jonah Hill his second Academy Award nomination.

    2. Lindsay Lohan

    Lindsay Lohan
    image via www.theguardian.co.uk

    According to reports, Lindsay Lohan made just $100 (£59.83) per day to star in movie flop The Canyons. It was, however, rumoured that she would receive an equal share of the profits.

    3. Brad Pitt

    Brad Pitt
    image via www.hollywoodreporter.com

    Brad Pitt is one of the biggest movie stars in the world, starring in hit movies such as Fight Club and Seven, making him one of the highest paid actors in the industry, commanding $30 million per movie.

    His fee, however, wasn’t so significant when starting out, as he earned just $6,000 for the film Thelma and Louise.

    4. Ethan Hawke

    the purge
    image via thefilmstage.com

    Ethan Hawke is a household name in the movie industry, and recently starred in the Oscar-nominated film Boyhood. So you might be surprised to learn he earned next to nothing for horror film The Purge.

    In exchange for the role, he simply received a share of the movie’s profits. He stated in an interview: “There were no perks. No trailer, no driver, no BS. Just a great role, a great director. Hell, on The Purge, I slept on his couch the whole shoot”.

    5. Jim Carrey

    Jim Carrey
    image via www.fanpop.com

    Jim Carrey is one of the greatest comedy actors in the business and, confident in his own ability and the screenplay, he traded his salary for the movie Yes Man for a share of its profits.

    The move paid off, as he earned £35 million (£21 million) following the success of the film, which grossed $226 million (£135 million).

    6. Chris Evans

    Chris Evans
    image via www.frontpagemag.com

    Robert Downey Jr may have earned an envious $50 million (£30 million) for his role as Iron Man/Tony Stark in The Avengers, Chris Evans was not so lucky. He earnt just £2 million for his role as Captain America. We almost felt bad for Chris – but then we remembered he still earned £2 million.

    7. The Monuments Men Actors

    Monuments Men
    image via www.artjuice.net

    George Clooney, Bill Murray, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett and the rest of the big name stars in 2014’s The Monuments Men all took pay cuts to star in the film to reduce its budget to just $70 million.

    Geogre Clooney stated: “If you pay everyone a full boatload, it’s a $150 million film. You just can’t do it. Everybody worked for super cheap, like crazy cheap.”

    8. Matthew McConaughey

    Dallas Buyer's Club
    image via www.haaretz.com

    Matthew McConaughey turned his career around in 2011 when he starred in the 2011 movie Killer Joe, and has since gone on to star in Academy Award nominated films such as The Wolf of Wall Street.

    Once offered a role for $15 million to star in Magnum PI, the southern actor took a massive pay cut to star in The Dallas Buyer’s Club, taking home just $200,000.

    While the sum may have hit his bank balance, the role won him a large number of fans, who finally realised what a talented actor McConaughey really is. Now you can’t put a price on that level of respect!

    9. Adam Levine

    Adam Levine
    image via www.huffingtonpost.com

    Adam Levine, the frontman for Maroon 5, will be the first to tell you that he is an inexperienced actor – and despite his million dollar bank balance, the singer chose to star in Begin Again for no money whatsoever.

    He simply wanted to learn the craft and to take little or no money for work he enjoys.

    10. Ryan Gosling

    Ryan Gosling
    image via veblenesquegorge.tumblr.com

    After starring in the hit 2004 film The Notebook, Ryan Gosling had his pick of roles that would bring a flurry of girls into the cinema. Instead, he opted to take on material he felt passionate about, and so was paid just $1,000 a week to star in the indie movie Half Nelson.

    It turns out Gosling isn’t just a pretty face, after all, as the role resulted in his bagging his first Oscar nomination.

  • 10 Things the Conservatives Plan to Do With Your Money

    10 Things the Conservatives Plan to Do With Your Money

    The fate of the UK’s next five years was decided when the Conservative Party won the election by a majority vote in May 2015. Whether you voted for them or not, the future of the UK’s public is, mostly, in the conservative government’s plans. So, what do the tories have in store for us? Here are 10 things the conservatives plan to do with your money over the next 5 years.

    1. Benefits

    George Osborne
    image via www.telegraph.co.uk

    The Tories goal is to cut the welfare budget by £12 billion by 2017-18. There is, however, mystery surrounding how the government will do just that.

    What we do know is they have pledged to cut benefits at £23,000 from the current rate of £26,000.

    People between the ages of 18-21 will also be ineligible for job-seekers allowance, but will be entitled to Youth Seekers Allowance for up to six months. After this time period, they will be offered an apprenticeship, trainee-ship or daily community work to work for their benefits, and they will also have no access to Housing Benefit.

    2. Statutory Maternity Pay

    maternity
    image via telegraph.co.uk

    One way the government might cut the welfare budget is by scrapping statutory maternity pay, according to a recently leaked document.

    Paternity leave will also not be doubled from 2 to 4 weeks, which was a plan proposed by Labour.

    3. Housing

    Help to Buy
    image via www.gov.uk

    The Right to Buy scheme will allow renters to purchase their own properties at a bigger discount. Aspiring homeowners would also receive £50 for every £200 saved towards the deposit for up to £3,000, as part of a Help to Buy ISA.

    Buyers who can save a 5% deposit could also apply for an interest-free five-year government loan that’s equivalent to 20% of the new build property’s value.

    4. Inheritance Tax

    inheritance tax
    image via www.barchestergreen.co.uk

    The Tories have promised a £175,000 per person transferable allowance for both married couples and civil partners when their main residence is inherited to their children after their death.

    Combined with the existing £325,000 nil-rate band per person, parents could pass on property worth up to £1 million that is free from inheritance tax.

    5. Energy Bills

    energy bills
    image via www.thesundaytimes.co.uk

    Labour promised to freeze energy bills for the next two years if they won the election, which would help reduce household bills. The Conservative government will, however, allow energy bills to rise over the next two years.

    6. Pensions

    pensions
    image via www.gosimpletax.com

    There is now greater flexibility with pensions, as people can easily access their retirement pots at their request after the age of 55 years old – which is a policy that came into affect on 6th April 2015.

    The state pension will continue to rise by whatever is highest out of consumer price inflation: average earnings or the 2.5%.

    Pensioners will continue to benefit from the winter heating allowance, as well as free bus passes and TV licences.

    7. Rail Fares

    rail tickets
    image via www.thisismoney.co.uk

    Rail fare costs will be frozen for the next five years, which David Cameron has stated could save regular commuters an average of £400 per year.

    The frozen fee applies to everything from daily, weekly, monthly and annual season tickets.

    8. Income Tax

    income tax
    image via consciouslifenews.com

    It’s good news for workers, as the Conservatives have promised legislation that would not increase income tax, national insurance or VAT. The tax-free personal allowance will rise from £10,600 to £12,500 by 2020.

    The Prime Minister has also pledged to raise the threshold of the 40pc income tax from its current £42,383 to £50,000.

    The Conservative Party has also promised to raise the minimum wage to approximately £8 within the next five years.

    9. Childcare

    childcare
    image via www.bloomberg.com

    Parents of newborns might be a little concerned they may no longer by eligible for statutory maternity pay, but those with children aged three to four years old may be delighted to learn the conservative government plans to double free childcare for working parents to 30 hours – which is worth approximately £5,000 per year.

    10. Marriage Tax

    marriage
    image via www.harpyness.com

    Married couples wil now have the right to transfer up to £1,060 of tax-free income to their partner, and this will also apply to civil partnerships.

  • 10 Silliest Lottery Winners in History

    10 Silliest Lottery Winners in History

    Most of us have dreamt of winning the lottery. Many would buy or upgrade their home, invest in a new car or maybe take a few expensive holidays abroad. Heck, we would even probably go on the odd crazy shopping spree every once in a while – all the while knowing that there is an end to the supply of cash. Others might simply lose their marbles and blow the whole lot.

    You’ll probably sit there thinking “idiots!” – but who knows how much winning the lottery could change you. It could turn you into an absolute fool over night – just like the following 10 people The Big Money Guide will soon tell you all about.

    Here are the 10 silliest lottery winners in history – and trust us, these stories are pretty stupid!

    1. Hooked on Hookers – Michael Carroll

    Michael Carroll
    image via www.peoples.ru

    Michael Carroll thought all his Christmases had come at once when he won £9.7 million ($15 million) in the UK’s lottery back in 2002. An overnight millionaire, Michael was quick to lap up the life of luxury, developing a penchant for flash cars, crazy parties, cocaine and hookers.

    The crazy lifestyle soon came to an end in 2007, as Michael had blew all of his lottery winnings and was back to square one working as a bin man.

    2. Karma Kindness – Tonda Lynn Dickerson

    waffle house
    image via www.deathandtaxesmag.com

    Karma came back to bite Tonda Lynn Dickerson, who refused to split her $10 million lottery win with her Waffle House colleagues and Mr Steward, a customer who bought the ticket for the Waffle House employees.

    Not only did she refuse to share the cash with her colleagues, but she did not give Mr Steward the gift of a pick-up truck that was always promised to him if the staff ever won. So, he sued.

    In the middle of the lawsuit, Tonda Lynn Dickerson decided to embark on a little tax planning with her family, forming the S corporation in Florida to safely store her winnings. This entity therefore protected the cash from potential creditors. She therefore retained 49% of the money, whilst her parents and siblings had a share of 51%. Little did she know she would receive a large tax bill of $771,570, which was given to her by Toye Sue Washington, an attorney with the Estates Division if the IRS, for unpaid federal gift tax.

    Tonda, not wanting to part with her winnings, challenged the IRS, claiming the amount was not a gift as she had agreed with her family that she would share her money if she ever won the lottery. Yeah, that’s still a gift, Tonda!

    Thirteen years later, it was confirmed it was a gift. She was therefore ordered to pay $1,119,347.90.

    3. Marriage Crack – Willie Hurt

    cash
    image via www.galleryhip.com

    Winning the lottery would be a dream come true for most families, but not for Willie Hurt and his loved ones. Two years after winning $3.1 million in the Michigan Lottery, Willie Hurt divorced his wife, lost custody of his children, developed a crack-cocaine addiction and was charged with attempted murder.

    His drug addiction became so bad that he lost his entire fortune, as well as his whole life.

    4. Bad Blood – William “Bud” Post

    willie hurt
    image via www.galleryhip.com

    You would think your family would be happy for you if you bagged $16.2 million lottery jackpot, but not William “Bud” Post’s family. Not only did his ex-girlfriend sue him for a share and win, but his brother hired a hit-man to inherit the winnings but the attempt was, thankfully, unsuccessful. His family would also continually harass him for cash and offered advice on some bad investments.

    Within a year, he was left with a $1 million debt and was forced to file for bankruptcy.

    5. Construction Calamity

    americo lopes
    image via www.cnn.com

    Americo Lopes, a construction worker, won the lottery, quit his job and claimed he was leaving for foot surgery. He later admitted to an ex-colleague that he had won the lottery, failing to share the prize with his colleagues – who were all owed a cut. His ex-colleague and the rest of his workmates got together to confront Lopes, and the court ordered him to split the cash.

    6. Dumb Debt – Suzanne Mullins

    money down the drain
    image via www.risk.net

    Suzanne Mullins won the US lottery in 1993 and smartly opted to receive yearly payouts instead of a full cash lump sum. She was, however, a little bit silly with her money, using future payouts as collateral for a $200,000 loan.

    She later decided to take the full lump sum to pay the debt, but was never able to pay back the full amount. As she failed to make the loan repayments, the company filed a law suit and won for $154,000 settlement. Unfortunately for the loan company, Suzanne had no assets to her name and so the lawsuit was absolutely worthless.

    7. Two-Time Millionaire – Evelyn Adams

    evelyn adams
    image via imgarcade.com

    Few people can claim they have won the lottery once, and so it is rare that a person can win the lottery a second time around – but that’s just what Evelyn Adams did back in 1985 and 1986.

    She won a reported $5.4 million but blew all that cold, hard cash in Atlantic City, according to AskMen.com. She now lives in a trailer park.

    8. Silly Smarts – Alex and Rhoda Toth

    alex and rhoda toth
    image via www.pixshark.com

    Back in 1990, Alex and Rhoda Toth won $13 million on the lottery when they were penniless. Not wanting to splash the cash too soon, they chose to receive $666,666 per year for the next twenty years. A smart move for a couple who have just won the lottery.

    The couple decided to live the high life in Las Vegas for a while, but eventually chose to return home to Florida to buy some land and set-up a home. Family members, however, came out of the woodwork wanting a share of the cash, and so Alex and Rhoda were faced with crippling court fees and legal dramas.

    Between 2002 to 2005, Alex was arrested for growing marijuana and writing bad cheques. They lost everything, and eventually had to live in a tiny trailer on half an acre of land, with their electricity source coming from their car’s engine.

    In 2006, the couple were arrested for tax evasion. Unfortunately Alex passed away whilst awaiting trial, whilst Rhoda claimed she was too ill to stand trial. It later turned out that Rhoda was lying, as a video emerged of her moving with ease, and so she was sentenced to two years in prison and was forced to pay $1.1 million to the IRS.

    9. Illegal Lotto

    erik cervantes
    image via www.elnuevogeorgia.com

    Jose Antonio Cua-Toc, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, put his trust in the wrong person when he won the lottery in Georgia, USA. Knowing he couldn’t legally claim the cash, he asked Erick Cervantes, his employer, to claim the prize for him. Unfortunately for Jose, his boss claimed the cash as his own, and so they two men headed to court to resolve the argument. Jose Antonio luckily won the money back, minus his attorney and tax fees.

    10. Spending Spree – Vivian Nicholson

    Vivian Nicholson
    image via www.theguardian.com

    Way back in 1961, Vivian and Keith Nicholson won the pools, Vivian stated she planned on shopping away all the cash. True to her word, Vivian spent all the money on haute couture and just a few years later there was nothing left of her lump sum.

  • 10 Highest Paid Actors of All Time

    10 Highest Paid Actors of All Time

    The actors on this list have amassed a fortune many of us could never comprehend, and they owe it all to talent, fame and, most likely, a little bit of luck. So, without further adieu, here are the 10 highest paid actors of all time.

    10. Sean Connery – $300 Million

    Sean Connery
    image via www.filmweb.pl

    Sean Connery is, to many, the ultimate James Bond – and his acting talent is reflected in his bank balance. Sean, whose mother was a cleaning lady and father was a factory worker, is now one of the highest paid movies stars in the world.

    9. Arnold Schwarznegger – $300 Million

    Arnold Schwarznegger
    image via www.theguardian.com

    When Arnold Schwarzenegger started out as a body-builder, we doubt he ever believed he would amass a fortune of $300 million for acting. The actor with the nearly unpronounceable surname is now one of the most popular stars on screen, featuring in some of the most loved movies of all time, including ‘Kindergarten Cop’ and, of course, ‘Terminator’. We can see that at least some of his fortune is spent on top cigars.

    8. Keanu Reeves – $350 Million

    Keanu Reeves
    image via www.denofgeek.com

    Keanu Reeves is not only one of the highest paid actors of all time, he is also one of the sweetest. Very aware of how blessed he is, Keanu gave away his $75 Million salary for The Matrix to the movie crew, with each person on set taking away $1 million, as he believed they deserved the money more than him.

    8. Tom Hanks – $350 Million

    Tom Hanks
    image via www.pagesix.com

    Oscar winner Tom Hanks is one of the most popular actors in the movie industry, adored by audiences across the world. Thanks to his superb acting talent in movies such as ‘Philadelphia’ and ‘Forest Gump’, he is now worth an incredible $350 million.

    7. Bill Cosby – $350 Million

    Bill Cosby
    image via www.tvweek.com

    Bill Cosby maybe a controversial figure at the moment, but that doesn’t stop the fact he’s still worth a significant amount of money from his stand-up performances, movies and ‘The Cosby Show’.

    6. Clint Eastwood – $375 Million

    Clint Eastwood
    image via www.theguardian.com

    Clint Eastwood is more than just a talented actor, he is now one of the most respected movie directors in the world, creating Oscar nominated movies such as ‘American Sniper’ and ‘Million Dollar Baby’. Not bad for a college dropout!

    5. Johnny Depp – $400 Million

    Johnny Depp
    image via www.coastal.com

    Johnny Depp’s versatility and acting ability has most definitely paid off, allowing him to bag 5th position on this list. Who needs a golden ticket when you have $400 million in the bank?

    4. Sylvester Stallone – $400 Million

    Sylvester Stallone
    image via www.airherald.com

    At the start of his career, Sylvester Stallone struggled to land an acting gig. So what did he do? He created his own opportunity, writing a screenplay that would change his life forever. What was that movie? Only one of the biggest boxing films of all time: Rocky.

    3. Jack Nicholson – $400 Million

    Jack Nicholson
    image via www.vogue.it

    Jack by name, Jack by nature – as Jack Nicholson really is a Jack of all trades. Not only is he a respected actor, but he is a screenwriter, producer and director. The actor, who has received Academy Award nominations every decade from the 1960s to 2000s, is also one of the richest thespians in Hollywood.

    2. Mel Gibson – $425 Million

    Mel Gibson
    image via www.business2community.com

    Mel Gibson would have made number one of this list, if it wasn’t for the fact he lost half of his $850 million fortune to his ex-wife in his 2011 divorce settlement. Still, Mel Gibson’s net worth is not to be sniffed at, as he has secured a whopping $425 million for starring in movies such as ‘Braveheart’, ‘Lethal Weapon’ and ‘What Women Want’, as well as producing films such as ‘Apocalypto’ and ‘The Passion of the Christ’.

    1. Tom Cruise – $450 Million

    tom cruise
    image via www.wallpapersnewhd.com/

    Tom Cruise never wanted to become an actor. His goal was to become a priest. So, if you’d have told him many years ago that he would one day be the richest actor of all time, he would most likely have laughed in your face – and repented afterwards. He now has a wealth of $450 million thanks to critically acclaimed movies such as ‘Born of the Fourth July’, ‘Jerry Maguire’ and ‘Top Gun’.

  • 10 Mind-Blowing Mayweather-Pacquiao Money Facts

    10 Mind-Blowing Mayweather-Pacquiao Money Facts

    Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao is, without question, the most lucrative boxing fight ever. The prize fight is worth a total of $300 million (£198m) – and boy is it worth each and every penny. Mayweather and Pacquiao aren’t just boxing for an amazing pay check – but they will fight for a place in history that even money can’t buy.

    So, what is the cost of MayPac? Here’s a money breakdown for you, according to UK Business Insider…

    Mayweather v Pacquiao
    image via www.boxingreplays.com

    1. The Fight Split

    Win or lose, Mayweather is taking home the biggest share of the cash, as the $300m will be split 60/40 in Mayweather’s favour. This is in addition to his current $400m bank balance. Sheesh!

    2. Ticket Sales

    The Mayweather-Pacquiao fight will generate an incredible $72m (£48m) in ticket sales. The cheapest seats cost $1,500

    3. Sponsorships

    The fight will generate an incredible $12m (£8m) in sponsorship deals alone. Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank – who are the promoters that represent both Mayweather and Pacquiao – have set a minimum sponsorship bid at $1.5m.

    The fights biggest sponsor is Tecate, who are a Mexican beer company and have signed a $5.6m deal. The Mexican Tourism Board, Paramount Pictures, The Weinstein Company and the Filipino telecoms company Smart Communications have also signed deals.

    Mayweather & Pacquiao
    image via www.huzlers.com

    4. Pay-Per-View Sales

    Pay-Per-View sales for the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight could reach an incredible $270 (£179m). Standard definition is available in the US for $89.99, whilst HD is priced at £99.99. The fighters will receive a 55-65% share of the profits.

    5. Mayweather-Pacquiao Merchandise

    You would think there was no other way the fight could make money, right? Wrong! It is expected the fight will create $1m (£661,000) in merchandise sales, which includes everything from t-shirts, hoodies, caps, keychains and posters.

    6. Closed Circuit Broadcast

    Plenty of people will head to bars to catch a glimpse of two of the greatest modern-day boxers fight it out to prove who is the best welterweight. Closed circuit broadcast at bars is therefore expected to result in a $13m (£9m) revenue.

    Mayweather Pacquiao
    image via www.sbindependent.org

    7. Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather

    Floyd Mayweather has earned approximately $420m (£278m) in his boxing career. He received $32m (£21m) for his last fight and his biggest payday, before Pacquiao, was against Saul Alvarez, taking home $75m (£50m). He also made an additional $20m from Pay-Per-View sales.

    Mayweather also signed a $200 million (£134m) deal with Showtime – which has been labelled the richest individual athlete deal in all sports”. Not bad for a boxer that has no endorsement income!

    8. Manny ‘Pac-Man’ Pacquiao

    Manny Pacquiao might not be as rich as Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, but his career earnings aren’t to be grumbled at. He’s earned $335m (£221m) in his professional career, with his last fight earning him an amazing $23m (£15m). His biggest payday was against Marquez III, as he brought home $30m (£20m).

    9. The Payout

    Both Manny and Floyd will receive an amazing lump sum for 12 rounds or less. So, what will they spend their money on? Promoter Bob Arum believes Mayweather’s money will be spent on his love of cars, whilst he believes Manny will donate even more money to charity.

    10. Biggest Boxing Purse in History

    The Mayweather v Pacquiao showdown will undoubtedly dwarf the biggest boxing matches in the sport’s history, which includes Mayweather’s fight against De Le Hoya in 2007, which made a reported $52 million.

    Tune into Mayweather v Pacquiao on 2nd May 2015 for an unforgettable night of sport. This is one boxing fight you won’t want to miss!

  • Consumer Confidence Remains Weak Despite Strong Economic Growth

    Consumer Confidence Remains Weak Despite Strong Economic Growth

    According to forecasts by the Bank of England, the British economy is likely to grow by a very healthy 3.5% in 2014. If this figure does materialise it will be the highest growth rate the country has experienced in the last ten years. However, the average British consumer is not sharing the much publicised euphoria about the country’s economy.

    A survey released by research firm GfK last week indicated that the morale of British consumers has declined from a recent high in September as British families become less optimistic about the outlook for the country’s economy as a whole, and their personal financial situation in particular. The company’s headline consumer confidence index showed an unexpectedly large drop to minus one last month, after posting a reading of plus one in August, on par with the 9-year high reading of June.

    piggy-banks

    The decline in September was mainly driven by a large drop in household expectations regarding personal financial situations and the outlook for the economy over the next year.

    According to Gfk’s MD for social research, Nick Moon, it was likely that the index would remain around this level because consumers were not seeing the benefits of strong economic growth in the form of wage growth or improved living standards.

    He added: “Many people are not themselves feeling any better off despite the growth in GDP, and this may be tempering the impact of positive media coverage of the economy.”

    British households also continue to struggle with personal debt issues and many individuals are now seeking professional advice about debt consolidation, IVA’s and bankruptcy.