Bazil Thorne

Bazil Thorne, an Australian, won £100,000 in 1960. In today's money, it would be worth millions, therefore it was exceptional at the time. Though it appears insane by today's standards, the newspaper posted not just the name but also the home location of lottery winners on the main page in 1960.

Thorne's 8-year-old son was abducted after school by a former insurance salesman who had lost his job. He had to pay rent for a pricey home and a family of his own, and he clearly couldn't think of a better way to make ends meet. He contacted the lottery winner and demanded a part of his winnings or he would kill the youngster.

Meanwhile, the kidnapper tied a scarf around the boy's head to keep him from crying and placed him in the trunk of his car. The youngster was dead the next time kidnapper checked on him. It was unclear if his death was caused by head trauma or asphyxia, according to officials. It was suggested that the kidnapper had no "true" goal of killing the youngster because he needed him to receive the money, his motives were evidently insignificant. The killer was apprehended and imprisoned, and regulations were prepared to allow lottery winners to stay nameless, but none of it was likely to bring the Thorne any consolation.

Lottery Winning Year: 1960

Nationality: Australian