By COLlive reporter
The boy who told his 62-year-old mother that she won the record-breaking $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot is being called the “World’s Cruelest Son” by the media.
On Wednesday, the boy phoned his mother, a registered nurse at the Park Avenue Health & Wellness Center in Pomona, California, reporting that she had won the epic lottery.
That life-changing piece of news turned out to be not true, with one of her 7 children telling the Los Angeles Times that it had been a “misunderstanding.”
What initially created buzz about the perceived win was that the woman’s ticket was purchased for her as a gift by the owner of the nursing home, Jewish businessman and philanthropist Shlomo Rechnitz.
Owner of Brius Healthcare Services, the largest nursing home provider in California, Rechnitz purchased 18,000 tickets for his employees and residents at 80 nursing homes across the state.
Speaking to ABC 7 News, Rechnitz was somewhat forgiving. “If this was a prank by her son, it was somewhat detestable,” he said and added, “I guess I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt in wanting to make his mom happy.”
Rechnitz told ABC News he wants the nurse to have some fun with the situation. He said he will buy an all-expenses paid vacation for the nurse and her family to anywhere they choose.
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In Australia Shomo would be called a “top bloke” – in other words – a mensch.
very impressive
Wow. What a generous and compassionate man.
Very impressed. Shlomo has a heart of gold. Using his money the right way
Either she won but is keeping it low, or the son is a….. and Rechnitz is making the best out of it.
If it’s too good to be true it probably is.
He does wonderful things. He is an angel
What a Rachman, I’m teary.
why should he give her something ? he is not obligated. so, it was just a prank, not a nice one, but it is a prank!!
Your heart and soul are in just the right place. Thank you for helping in all the right ways.
He shouldn’t have to give her that, the son should!!
G-D bless his heart
Classy, decent response.