'I won millions on the lottery – but it's ruined my faith in humanity'

A lottery winner who netted a fortune has opened up about the downsides of his windfall, revealing that his newfound wealth has brought him as much grief as it has financial relief.

He took to Reddit to share his story: after winning a staggering sum on the lottery, he instantly left his job and began wisely investing his millions.

He told users: "My partner and I placed half of the winnings in properties (one where we currently live and the other in the city I grew up in)." In an act of generosity, he bestowed a hefty two million each to his mother and sister and earmarked a further million for friends in need.

However, the man admits that despite the economic liberation, the financial benefits have become a source of angst as relatives incessantly demand more. He elaborated: "We have one million in our mutual bank account for property taxes and living expenses since we have quit our jobs."

Explaining his financial security further, he said: "The rest of the millions is in a high-yield savings account and we will be able to live off of interest for the rest of our lives (it is a more modest sum than you think) without touching the original winnings. We want the original winnings to go to our future children. Our financial advisor has been great."

But family tension has grown, as he describes: "The issue is - my sister and mum think we're being selfish for not giving them more money. They're asking for a family beach home on top of the money we've given but we frankly don't want to do this."

He also feels very awkward about the sudden interest from long-lost relatives sniffing around after his lottery success.

The Redditor said: "They are constantly asking me for money and it has caused me great anxiety. My family, for the most part, have good to great jobs and my sister is a VP in her department for a well-known tech company. My mum has retirement savings beyond the money I've given her."

He continued: "I am just torn and now I know why they say more money more problems. I don't want to keep feeling like I'm the family's ATM machine. I've heard them say I am stingy and this is extremely hurtful. I am also expected to pay for all dinners which is ok.

"But I'm not sure why winning money makes people treat you this way versus when someone inherits it from family? Everyone feels like they're entitled to my partner's and my money."

Fortunately, people were forthcoming with their advice. One user commented on his post: "I think two million each is more than enough and probably too much. You're either going to have to shut it down and set some firm boundaries or move and change your number. If you don't, this will never stop."

Another user chimed in: "You were the lottery winner, therefore you can choose where it goes. You chose to give each of them two million which is already a lot. And now they demand more from you and call you the selfish one? You've already given them more than enough out of the kindness of your heart, and you have the right to draw the line."

Another user chimed in: "Tell them if they want a family beach home they can buy that with the money you've already given them. As for the extended family politely let them know that if they were ever in actual desperate need for money you would of course help them out but outside of that situation the money is for you and your future, not theirs."