Everyone wants to hit it big, and TV characters show us a hypothetical taste of the jackpot win. Here are five incredibly lucky TV characters who won the lottery, or something akin to it.
Hurley (Lost)
One of the most iconic lottery winners on television is Lost’s Hugo “Hurley” Reyes. According to Lottoland, Hurley grabbed the winning lottery numbers — 4-8-15-16-23-42 — from a fellow patient at the Santa Rosa Mental Institute. He took home millions with his victory, but with it came a wave of bad luck instead of happiness. From the unexpected passing of his grandpa to the fires that destroyed his mom’s spruce home, Hurley assumed the numbers were cursed. Even though he was a wealthy dude, his character was relatable and nice, which made his story somewhat tragic — and interesting.
Ned Devine (Waking Ned Devine)
Ned Devine, a resident of the small Irish village of Tullymore, wins the lottery jackpot of nearly seven million pounds. However, his excitement proves fatal, and he dies clutching the winning ticket. The village embarks on a hilarious scheme to claim the ticket, highlighting the importance of friendship and the true value of money
Kevin Carson (The Lottery Ticket)
Kevin Carson, a young man from Atlanta, wins a $370 million lottery jackpot. His life is turned upside down as he navigates through false friendships and predatory loan sharks. Eventually, Kevin uses his winnings to start a shoe company, clean up his neighborhood park, and establish a foundation to help his community.
Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)
In one episode, The Simpsons character Homer Simpson has a lottery win and shows the ridiculous things people would get up to. Not exactly the most responsible character ever, but we get a few laughs out of Homer being a lottery winner and then struggling with that success.
Ben Affleck’s Character (Paycheck)
Although not a lottery win, Ben Affleck’s character in Paycheck receives a check for millions after erasing his memory of doing a job. This windfall offers him a chance at a new life, though he faces challenges in understanding how he earned the money.
Kent Brockman (The Simpsons)
Also in The Simpsons, Springfield’s local news anchor Kent Brockman also hits the jackpot. His victory enables him to live more extravagantly, but his over-the-top spending and his specter of a personality keep his win both fun, as well as a cautionary the pitfalls of sudden wealth.
Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang-Theory)
In a very unconventional stroke of luck, Sheldon Cooper won a Nobel Prize in Physics with Amy Farrah Fowler. This win also wasn’t about the cash, but the honor and accolades were absolutely life-changing for Sheldon, who had dreamed about this moment since he was a kid. That award confirmed his genius and made him a global celebrity; he valued it far more than money. It was a nice moment for Sheldon, and it highlighted Sheldon’s evolution as a character over the course of the show.
Conclusion
These television characters teach us that winning big time has nothing is not always about money; it can be recognition, validation, or simply achieving your dreams. From Hurley’s winning lottery numbers to Sheldon’s Nobel Prize, their stories remind us of how unpredictable luck can be in life.