On December 28, 1996, Denise Rossi secured a $1.3 million windfall in the California lottery, equivalent to approximately $3.1 million or $4.5 million AUD in today’s currency. However, her subsequent actions led to her ending up with nothing.

Rossi, married for 26 years, chose to keep her lottery win clandestine, not disclosing it even to her husband. Just 11 days later, she unexpectedly filed for divorce, a move calculated to avoid sharing her newfound fortune with her spouse.

Photographer Thomas Rossi, blindsided by the sudden divorce, stumbled upon the truth two years later when he received a letter for his ex-wife at his new residence. Confirming the jackpot with The California State Lottery Commission, Thomas discovered that Denise had opted for a payout of $66,800 annually over 20 installments, with the checks sent to her mother’s address in Northern California.

Taking legal action, Thomas filed a court injunction. In November 1999, a Los Angeles family court judge ruled that Denise had violated state asset disclosure laws. Consequently, he awarded the entirety of her lottery winnings to her ex-husband.

This intriguing saga of hidden wealth and legal battles serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of secret windfalls and the importance of transparent financial communication in relationships.

In other historical events, on December 28, 1065, Westminster Abbey was consecrated and opened. Commissioned by Edward the Confessor, the Romanesque monastic church became a significant site for English coronations, hosting ceremonies of national importance, including the recent coronation of King Charles III in May 2023—the 62nd British monarch.

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