Alabama Waitress Tipped a Lottery Ticket And Won $10 Million — Then Faced Lawsuits, IRS Battles, and a Kidnapping
BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI — What started as a lucky break for one Alabama waitress quickly spiraled into a nightmare of lawsuits, betrayal, and violence. In 1999, Tonda Dickerson, a waitress at a Waffle House in Grand Bay, Alabama, was tipped a lottery ticket by a regular customer — and it ended up winning $10 million.
But instead of newfound happiness, Dickerson’s life unraveled in the years that followed, marked by lawsuits from co-workers, a kidnapping attempt by her ex-husband, and a decade-long legal battle with the IRS.
From a Simple Tip to a Life-Altering Jackpot
According to reports, the winning ticket was given to Dickerson by a customer named Edward Seward, who often tipped servers with lottery tickets. One of those tickets from the Florida Lotto hit the jackpot, instantly transforming Dickerson’s financial future.
Initially, coworkers at the Waffle House celebrated with her — until disputes about the winnings erupted.
Coworkers Claim They Were Owed a Share
Five of Dickerson’s fellow employees sued her, claiming they had an oral agreement to split any lottery winnings. They argued that the ticket had been part of a shared “pool” among staff.
The case went to the Alabama Supreme Court, which eventually ruled in Dickerson’s favor, stating that gambling-related contracts — including informal “lottery pools” — were unenforceable under Alabama law.
While she kept her winnings, the emotional and financial strain was only beginning.
Kidnapping Attempt by Her Ex
Not long after her courtroom battles, tragedy struck again. Dickerson’s ex-husband kidnapped her at gunpoint, reportedly demanding a portion of her lottery winnings.
According to police records, Dickerson managed to fight back and escape, and her ex was later arrested and charged with kidnapping and assault.
The ordeal left Dickerson deeply shaken and forced her to live more privately, avoiding public attention whenever possible.
IRS Comes Calling
As if the chaos wasn’t enough, Dickerson soon found herself facing a massive tax dispute with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
After setting up a corporation called 9 Mill, Inc. to manage her winnings, the IRS determined that Dickerson owed millions in gift taxes, arguing that she had effectively “gifted” shares of her prize to family members.
The legal battle dragged on for more than a decade, with the IRS ultimately winning a portion of the dispute.
Where She Is Now
After years of turmoil, Dickerson has largely retreated from the spotlight. Now in her 50s, she reportedly works as a poker dealer at the Golden Nugget Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, living a much quieter life than the one she stumbled into decades ago.
Despite her hardships, her story remains one of the most extraordinary examples of how instant fortune can bring lifelong complications.
As Dickerson once said in an interview, “Winning the lottery didn’t change my life for the better — it just showed me who people really are.”
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