Employee wins lottery and starts bragging at work, boss fires her after complaints of shaming coworkers' finances: 'She [made] comments about other employees' lunches being cheap'

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
Apr 7, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

Winning the lottery on a scratch-off ticket is something most of us only dream about. Imagine spending five dollars and suddenly having enough money to pay off your debt and take that long-awaited dream vacation. But if there's one thing life has taught us, it's that money can change people. And not always for the better.

One employee got lucky with a scratch-off win and couldn't wait to share the news with her coworkers. At first, everyone was excited for her, but then things started to get weird. The sudden increase in net worth seemed to go straight to her head. She started showing up to work with designer bags and even worse, shaming her coworkers for their "cheap" lunches. Her boss finally had enough when the receptionist burst into tears after the lotto winner advised the receptionist, and single mother, to make better life choices.

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  • But it doesn’t stop there. The entitlement only gets worse. 

    Now, the employee is claiming wrongful termination on the grounds of financial discrimination. Girl, be serious. You didn’t get fired for having money; you got fired for being insufferable. And the boss has receipts to prove it.

    Keep scrolling for the full story and stick around until the end so you don’t miss the best reactions from people in the comments who had no problem calling her out.

  • A Monillions (esting). a lot a Lotto Max 08 otto NAX JACKPOT ALERT ALERTE AU GROS LOT
    via Erik Mclean For Unsplash+

  • "Am I overreacting by firing an employee after she started bragging to other employees?"

    So this happened last month. One of our employees (let's call her Melissa) apparently won some decent money from a scratch-off lottery ticket. Not millions, but enough to pay off her car and take a vacation.
    via FrequentAir9354
  • At first, everyone was happy for her, but then things got weird. She started coming to work with designer bags, constantly bringing up her "financial advisor," and worst of all, making comments about other employees' lunches being "cheap" or asking why they don't
    via FrequentAir9354
  • "just upgrade" their phones/cars/apartments. The final straw came when she told our receptionist (who's a single mom) that "maybe if you made better life choices, you wouldn't be struggling." Several
    via FrequentAir9354
  • employees came to me in tears about her behavior. I had a private meeting with her about professionalism, but she just said everyone was "jealous" and that she "finally doesn't have to pretend to be friends with poor people."
    via FrequentAir9354
  • After documenting several incidents and another warning, I had to let her go. Now her friends are leaving 1-star reviews saying we "fired her for being successful" and "discriminated against her new financial status."
    via FrequentAir9354
  • Cheezburger Image 10490044672
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I didn't fire her for having money - I fired her for creating a toxic workplace. But the reviews are hurting business, and I'm starting to doubt myself. We are a small business in Chicago.
    via FrequentAir9354
  • Oddveig37 NOR and I would start by replying to all the reviews about what she actually did to get fired and that you're considering legal action because of the review bombing.
    via Oddveig37
  • KentinDE Can we talk about the fact, that she got money by sheer luck?
    via KentinDE
  • There's nothing to brag about. There's nothing she's "successful" in. Telling others to "just upgrade their stuff" in a workplace, where she - before she had big luck - had to "pay off" her car herself is just plain,
    via KentinDE
  • petty ignorance and stupidity. Being happy about winning a big sum of money is absolutely fine. Maybe even a little bit of bragging could be tollerable. Acting like a huge a hole, because of it on the other hand...?
    via KentinDE
  • FancyFlamingo82 Now I want to leave positive reviews about management cultivating a positive workplace environment and valuing employees. Definitely not overreacting and I commend you for not tolerating that behavior.
    via FancyFlamingo82
  • Direct_Relief_1212 Money does not change you, it reveals you. Reply to the reviews with the truth, if you can legally.
    via Direct_Relief_1212
  • Cute-Big-7003 You can contact Google and have those removed i would also consider hiring a lawyer for defamation. You have documentation and employees to back up ur claim and take her to court for lost business due to defamation. There's a high possibility she will be sanctioned
    via Cute-Big-7003
  • III-Bee8176 Get an attorney to send a cease and desist letter with a warning that you will sue for damages.
    via III-Bee8176
  • GuinevereNikita .... Having been a manager .. this one would have been out the door the minute she said she doesn't have to pretend to be friends with poor people. You sure
    via GuinevereNikita
  • don't! Bye now. (And for those who came after me last time saying, "Well you say former so I guess you got fired hahaha"...... No. I resigned to become a preacher, and now I am a proprietor of my own transport business, so......)
    via GuinevereNikita
  • nerveuse You are very clearly not over reacting.
    via nerveuse
  • ZenoOfTheseus Wait until that money runs out, she'll come crawling back.
    via ZenoOfTheseus
  • LadyLixerwyfe She won a scratch off. She isn't financially successful.
    via LadyLixerwyfe
  • Ashe_Faelsdon NOR, and if they're comfortable talking $hit then perhaps you should be just as outspoken in response. This is a 100% FAFO situation. Reply to every single negative review from her friends, explaining exactly what occurred.
    via Ashe_Faelsdon
  • Axg165531 Sounds like a gossip girl, every work place is better without them and she admitted she doesn't even like people their and pretended to because she was poor like them. Let's hope she's good with money or her attitude changes cause poor girl is gunna struggle
    via Axg165531
  • PomegranateZanzibar Review apps usually have a way to report malicious review bombing and can take them down.
    via PomegranateZanzibar
  • Phone_Realistic For "being successful". Sorry but winning at a scratch of ticket does not make anyone successful. That's hilarious.
    via Phone_Realistic
  • Ghazi_Bey NOR--you did a good thing, I appreciate that you looked out for your workers like that. That type of behavior is unacceptable in a work setting. If you want, you could drop the business name so we could counter the negative reviews
    via Ghazi_Bey
  • Dry-Calligrapher8469 Dawg I live in Chicago and would gladly give your store a good review even if I don't buy anything. This situation is f ed and I'm sorry you, your employees, and your business is getting f ed because of her brattiness
    via Dry-Calligrapher8469
  • Daniela_DK Absolutely sounds like you did what any responsible employer should do in that situation.
    via Daniela_DK
  • Melissa wasn't let go for "being successful" she was let go for being unprofessional and downright cruel to her coworkers. Bragging a little is one thing, but belittling others, especially making personal jabs at someone's life choices or financial
    via Daniela_DK
  • status, crosses a major line. A workplace should feel safe and supportive, not like high school with someone flaunting wealth and shaming others. If anyone's doubting your decision, remind them that success doesn't excuse toxic behavior. You did the right thing.
    via Daniela_DK

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Tags

reviews boss employee fired manager job lottery work coworkers scratch off bragging Office winner entitled ticket money karma
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