Cleveland — If you're still deciding on whether or not to purchase that Mega Millions ticket, consider this: Ohio ranks 4th in the country for the number of Mega Millions winners. The Buckeye State has posted 19 winners since 2003.
Those players won everything from $15 million to $270 million. And the majority of winners had one thing in common: They had auto-pick tickets.
We tried finding Ohio winners to share the results of their $2 dollars and a dream, but most winners claimed the money through trusts. And the attorneys representing them told us, their clients didn't want the kind of publicity others have had. In fact, Ohio is the number one state for people who hide behind their trusts.
But what we do know about the Ohio winners is most of them bought their tickets to the south of us.
"All I need is one ticket. That's all," said one Mega Millions player.
But be careful what you wish for.
When Mary and Brian Lohse from Iowa won the Powerball in 2012, they re-invested in their community. They put money towards a new high school football stadium, building the only grocery store in town, and paying off the mortgage at their church in Bondurant.
But at least 70% of winners end up broke after seven years. For some, it's even worse.
Jack Whittaker of West Virginia, who was already a millionaire, won close to $315 million dollars in 2002. Then, his 17-year-old granddaughter was found dead. He also had a couple run-ins with the law, including an assault and battery charge.
William "Bud" Post, won about $16 million dollars in the late 80s. Then someone close to him hired a hit-man to try to kill him.
But for those who can avoid the lottery curse by beating the odds on the big game, they say giving is the best win of all.
"We don't find happiness in the money. We find happiness in our family and in our friends," says Brian Lohse.