She Won $188 Million Lottery. But Why Did Her Pastor Sue Her?

Millions of people play the lottery every week. Their hope? To be rich beyond their wildest dreams.

The odds are greatly stacked against them. But for one North Carolina woman, she achieved the impossible dream.

Marie Holmes won $188 million dollars in the Powerball lottery. Her problems should have been over, but instead they just grew more complicated.

Holmes spent over $21 million bailing out her drug dealer boyfriend. Despite this, Lamar McDow was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to traffic in opium or heroin.

Holmes was mercilessly mocked for her decision to bail out her boyfriend. But she was dealt another humiliating blow when her local pastor sued her for $10 million.

Kevin Matthews claimed he gave Holmes spiritual help and counseling. 

He further maintained that he and Holmes had a verbal commitment for a large donation to help Matthews purchase a parcel of land.

Holmes and Matthews originally planned to work together to purchase the land for a retreat center at Matthews’ suggestion.

He had asked for $1-2 million from Holmes to facilitate the deal.

Holmes did pay Matthews $700,000 for the purchase of the land, but Matthews felt their verbal agreement entitled him to more. 

“The bottom line…I just want her to do what she said she was going to do,” Matthews said, according to Centric TV.

“I want peace and to do what God told me to do. I want her to do what she said she was going to do. I really feel like a warrior for Christ and people need to be accountable.”

Matthews says he became ‘hooked on various antidepressants’ and other medication as a result of the issues between him and Holmes.

Before Holmes won her fortune she was an ordinary mother of four struggling to pay the bills.

She worked several jobs to keep the household afloat.

Holmes was featured on the OWN show “Fix My Life,” where life coach Iyanla Vanzant attempted to navigate the young woman through her issues.

“It is my intention to show Marie that hers is not a problem of wealth,” Iyanla says. “It is a problem of maturity, of self-respect and of dignity.”