If we told you some of the biggest stars in the world have tried their luck at winning the lottery, would you believe us? Well, best you start believing, because there are a few celebs who love to play the lottery. While some play anonymously, others play for a good cause, so let’s take a look at some of the most surprising lotto-loving celebs in the world.
Simon Cowell
For a man who is worth an estimated $600 million and is at the helm of some of the most popular talent shows in the world , we’re just as surprised as you are to learn that Simon Cowell still plays the lottery. He admitted to it in an interview, stating he remains anonymous when purchasing tickets and will never disclose whether or not he has won money.
Hilary Clinton
That’s right! The former first lady and presidential candidate has indeed purchased American Powerball tickets! Clinton admitted she played the Powerball in January 2016, when it hit a high of $1.5 billion.
George Clooney
As a megastar and the face of Nescafe, there’s no way Mr. Clooney needs any extra cash. And he would likely agree. Clooney doesn’t play the lottery for his own benefit but for the benefit of others.
When a jackpot in the region he was staying in rose to £117 million, he purchased €1,500 in lottery tickets, pledging that if he won, he would donate all the money to the Haiti relief efforts. At the time (this was in 2010), Haiti was still in the throes of recovering from a devastating earthquake. His actions prompted Liz Hurley, an actress and close friend, to follow suit.
50 Cent
World-famous rapper 50 Cent filed for bankruptcy in 2015. Not long after, he tried his luck at winning the Powerball jackpot, which sat at $900 million at the time. Unfortunately, it was a story of so close yet so far. 50 Cent held three out of five winning numbers, narrowly missing his chance to get his hands on the big cash prize.
Hugh Jackman
This Australian actor, well-known for his portrayal of Wolverine, has admitted he purchases lottery tickets and hands them out on the sets of his films and other projects. He believes it improves morale on set and boosts the general mood of everyone present, making for a much more pleasant filming experience for the cast and crew.
Madonna
As one of the most iconic pop stars in the world, Madonna surely doesn’t need any Powerball winnings in her life. However, the superstar regularly plays the lottery – but for a good cause. She is particularly fond of playing the lottery while in Italy in a bid to stimulate and grow the Italian lottery market, paying homage to her heritage.
While on the European leg of her tour in 2012, she purchased 100 lottery tickets and ended up winning €120,000, all of which she donated to charity. In fact, she specifically put the money towards building schools in Malawi, the same country from which she adopted her son.
Chrissy Teigen
The wife of famous crooner John Legend has admitted to playing the lottery when the Mega Millions jackpot went up to a record high of $656 million. She never disclosed whether she won or played subsequently, so we’d have to assume that if she won, she donated at least some of it to charity.
Paris Hilton
She’s known for being one of the most famous heiresses in the world and is something of a pop culture icon, as well as being a formidable businesswoman. However, Paris still occasionally buys lottery tickets to try her luck. She admitted that she always donates at least 10% of any winnings to a cause close to her heart.
Conclusion
Celebs – they really are just like us! While some do it for charity, others simply aren’t immune to the thrill of trying to win big cash prizes. From former presidential candidates to Hollywood royalty, these celebrities are proving that behind all the glitz and glam, they’re just regular people who do regular things.
