Friends Split $22M Jackpot After 28-Year Handshake Deal

When Thomas Cook won $22 million in the June 2020 Powerball drawing, he didn't even consider keeping it all for himself. A handshake deal with his friend Joseph Feeney meant they'd split any jackpot they won, and 28 years later, that promise still stood.

The two Menomonie, Wisconsin friends made their pact back in 1992 when Powerball first came to the state. They agreed that if either one ever hit the jackpot, they'd split it down the middle, no questions asked. Then they bought tickets together every single week.

"We said whenever the big winner comes, we're gonna split it," Feeney told reporters. "Not really thinking it would happen."

On the morning after the drawing, Cook sat eating breakfast at his Elk Mound home when he checked his numbers. The first few matched, and he froze. He handed the ticket to his wife, who froze too.

Cook immediately called Feeney, an avid fisherman who thought his friend was joking. "He called me and I said, 'Are you jerking my bobber?'" Feeney recalled.

Neither man treated honoring their agreement as a choice. Feeney couldn't even remember exactly when they'd made the deal, guessing about 20 years back. The lottery traced it all the way to 1992.

Cook's explanation came in just five words: "A handshake's a handshake, man."

Sunny's Take

In a world where lottery winners often face lawsuits from family and friends claiming they're owed a share, this story shines differently. These two friends never needed lawyers or written contracts. Their word was enough for nearly three decades of weekly ticket purchases.

After taxes, each walked away with about $5.7 million. Cook gave his two weeks' notice at work while Feeney, already retired from the local fire department, welcomed his friend to retirement life. Neither had flashy plans for the money.

Cook, who has grandchildren and great-grandchildren, said he just wanted time with them without worrying about the cost. "We can pursue what we feel comfortable with," he said. "I can't think of a better way to retire."

The two couples had traveled together before in a cramped convertible. Now they'd just have more room and fewer budget constraints.

After collecting his millions, Cook showed he hadn't lost his sense of humor or hope. He bought two more Powerball tickets with a grin: "What can I lose?"