$259 million Powerball winner took poverty vow

Jul 3, 2014, 10:58 pm (48 comments)

Powerball

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A man with a winning $259.8 million Powerball ticket claimed what officials are calling the largest jackpot ever won in Tennessee and says he plans to use most of the money to support the performing arts.

Roy Cockrum, of Knoxville, appeared Thursday at the Tennessee Lottery headquarters in Nashville to claim the prize. He plans to accept a lump sum payment of $115 million.

Cockrum, 58, bought the ticket at a Kroger store in Knoxville on June 11.

Cockrum said in a statement that when he realized he had won the jackpot, it "literally knocked me to my knees."

He then said a little prayer, picked himself up, put the winning ticket in his wallet and went to pick up his mother.

Cockrum worked 20 years as an actor and stage manager for theater and television. He later became known as Brother Roy as he followed a call to religious service with The Society of Saint John the Evangelist, an Episcopal religious community in Cambridge, Massachusetts. According to the society's "Rule of Life," members of the monastic order take "lifelong vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience in an enduring fellowship."

He moved back to Knoxville in 2009 to care for his parents, the lottery said.

"I really believe the best way to prepare for this tsunami of cash has been to live under a vow of poverty for a number of years," Cockrum said. "It gives great perspective."

Cockrum said he plans to use most of the money to start a foundation that will support performing arts organizations around the country.

"It's going to be my job to work very hard to make sure that every single penny of this prize is a blessing to whoever it touches," he said during a news conference. Beyond that, Cockrum had little to say and let lottery officials do most of the talking.

Lottery officials say it's the largest prize ever won in Tennessee Lottery history.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

WCVB, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

dognabit

Listen everyone, I do not want anyone to suffer, so I am more than willing to take one for the team and receive  the winnings. Any thank you cards may be sent to my private island.

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Congrats to Roy on his big win. Cheers

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

From the article:

"........worked 20 years as an actor and stage manager for theater and television. He later became known as Brother Roy as he followed a call to religious service with The Society of Saint John the Evangelist, an Episcopal religious community in Cambridge, Massachusetts. According to the society's "Rule of Life," members of the monastic order take "lifelong vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience in an enduring fellowship.""

Ut oh.

Is the Society going to demand it all?

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Jul 3, 2014

From the article:

"........worked 20 years as an actor and stage manager for theater and television. He later became known as Brother Roy as he followed a call to religious service with The Society of Saint John the Evangelist, an Episcopal religious community in Cambridge, Massachusetts. According to the society's "Rule of Life," members of the monastic order take "lifelong vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience in an enduring fellowship.""

Ut oh.

Is the Society going to demand it all?

I wonder if he is allowed to at least have a Corona Extra with a lime. Okay maybe Corona Extra is not a poor man's beer. How about a King Cobra?

golfer1960's avatargolfer1960

This is further proof that everyone has their own version of the "dream" when they buy a lottery ticket.

He took a "lifelong vow of poverty, celibacy and obedience" to god and now he wins $259M in the lottery!

Incredible!

I'd better start praying.

 

sulking

mikeintexas's avatarmikeintexas

"...he plans to use most of the money to support the performing arts."

Good for him.  I'd much rather see him supporting the performing arts than have my tax dollars do it.

s5thomps's avatars5thomps

Quote: Originally posted by dognabit on Jul 3, 2014

Listen everyone, I do not want anyone to suffer, so I am more than willing to take one for the team and receive  the winnings. Any thank you cards may be sent to my private island.

LOL DOGNABIT!! Thats mighty nice of you to do that.....after all he did say he took a vow of poverty. LOL I never took a vow but yet I still manage to be broke! Maybe Ridge can help out also since that's his homeboy.

noise-gate

This is puzzling...

He plans to " give most of his money to the performing arts"..

He joins a religious order where he was known as Brother Roy- how is it that the " order he belonged too- is not getting most of the money? Did he see something odd in the Society of St John the Evangelist that changed his mind?

Does the Society not need " support?"

... after all, he did fall to his knees and .....prayed.

Teddi's avatarTeddi

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jul 4, 2014

This is puzzling...

He plans to " give most of his money to the performing arts"..

He joins a religious order where he was known as Brother Roy- how is it that the " order he belonged too- is not getting most of the money? Did he see something odd in the Society of St John the Evangelist that changed his mind?

Does the Society not need " support?"

... after all, he did fall to his knees and .....prayed.

Perhaps the order will get 10% or maybe they frown on any form of gambling so won't accept the proceeds. If he saw something untoward about the order, it's doubtful he would have told the lottery officials that much about it. I went to a Jesuit school. The nuns and fathers had these same vows and were very strict about it. They would accept no gift that had any real monetary value. If a parent insisted, they requested the donation to be made to a charity instead. If this order is even half as strict, then they would not accept the money even if Brother Roy tried to give it to them.

Shelby Mustang

Well that's neat. I think he'll do good things with the cash

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Roll Eyes should be most curious to see how this pans out for him

 

I just hope his " " decision don't come back to haunt him the few years down the virtual road

savagegoose's avatarsavagegoose

I didnt tke ny vow of poverty, i just got lucky i guess.

Litebets27's avatarLitebets27

Quote: Originally posted by savagegoose on Jul 4, 2014

I didnt tke ny vow of poverty, i just got lucky i guess.

LOL

If he took a "vow of Poverty" why buy lottery tickets that have a probability of earning you millions of dollars if you win.

I'd call that poor vow of poverty planning.

But anyway, congratulations to the winner!

POVERTY IS OVER!!!

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

I'd say he hit the lottery twice...his parents didn't take a vow of celibacy.

Subscribe to this news story