“S.” came to the conclusion that wealth that comes without effort brings unpleasant memories
A 66-year-old Japanese man made a fortune and hid it from his wife, who is “too thrifty”. He bought a top-of-the-range car, frequents spas and luxury resorts, but his lavish secret life ended up causing him an identity crisis.
The Portuguese saying goes that money does not bring happiness. That’s what happened to a 66-year-old Japanese man, who won 600 million yen, about 3.3 million of euros, in the lottery.
After receiving the prize, the lucky winner, identified only as “S.”, hid his fortune from his wifeknown for being extremely thrifty, so she can secretly enjoy a life of luxury.
According to , “S”, retired from a large industrial company, lives with his wife in Tokyo with a joint monthly pension of 300 thousand yen, around 1700 euros.
Perhaps due to the wife’s known reluctance to spend money, despite the high cost of living in the city and the expenses associated with the education of their two children, the couple had savings of 27 million yenabout 150 thousand euros.
After his retirement, “S” had a simple life. I spent my days reading the newspaper in a local cafe and, after breakfast, I used to buy some lottery tickets, each priced at 300 yen, less than 2 euros.
One day, the Japanese lottery informed “S” that he had won a large amount and that he should go to his bank, where he discovered that he had won no less than the amount. first prize of 600 million yen.
The initial reaction was shock. “This doesn’t seem real. The value is so high that even I get scared“, he confessed. “I heard that the chances of winning are less than being struck by lightning. This is just an experience in my life.”
“S” then made a peculiar decision. Instead of telling his wife, who was extremely strict with expenses and who controlled finances to the cent, decided to hide the prize from him.
Since marriage, the woman had had him prohibited from drinking beer and only allowed the family to have an old, cheap car. “S” often complained about his wife’s greed and felt embarrassed due to the tight control he maintained over the money.
So I told him that had only won 5 million yena little less than 30 thousand euros, and that he would use the money for small works at home.
However, in secret, began to live large: bought a top-of-the-range car, booked several stays at luxury spa resorts and traveled throughout Japan, spending 18 million yen, around 100 thousand euros, in just six months.
To avoid arousing suspicion, “S” wore old clothes and took the metro every day to the parking lot where he kept his new car. Furthermore, moved away from your usual social circle.
However, his secret lifestyle ended up provoke feelings of guilt and loneliness. During my travels, I often observed other couples with their children and thought about his own family.
“S” also started to remember painful memories of fatherwho had died alone after a divorce and bankruptcy, and ended up realizing that all Negative emotions originated from lottery money.
“If this money had been earned by my own effort, I would feel proud. But wealth that arises without effort brings unpleasant memories and it shook my life,” he said.
“S” ended up seeking advice from a financial advisor, and decided invest most of his still enormous fortune — 500 million yen, more than 27 million euros in insurance.
The unfortunate recipient ultimately named his wife and children as beneficiaries of his investments, and hopes that after his death this money will guarantee the family’s security — which You still don’t know you’re a millionaire.
