Rupert spent all his money in two weeks

[jolinar of malkshor]

The Survivor: All-Stars fan-favourite spent his US$1 million prize in two weeks, paying off his debt and helping others.

http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/2006/10/30/2174840.html

I wouldn't think it would be possible to spend 1 million in two weeks. WOW.

The guy seems like he wants to help others. Wouldn't he have helped more people by investing the money and donating the returns. He probably did that with some of the money, but how much did he spend on him self? No numbers provided.

[Bleeding Red]

Well....he set up a collage fund for his kids and put some aside for his sweet old mom. I am sure the IRS took a third (and he gave it gladly knowing what is happening to Richard from season one -"The 45-year-old remains in prison after being found guilty of not paying taxes on the US$1 million prize he won on the debut season of Survivor. He was sentenced in May to serve 51 months at a minimum-security facility in West Virginia.").

Being debt free is a big deal today! Consumer debt is the highest it has ever been - he could have been near bankruptcy for all we know.

Wasn't he a teen counselor? Hence the Teen charity fund.

Good for him!!

[ken0042]

Sounds like he is leading a richer life than I could ever hope to have.

[Burninator]

/\ What is that?

[ken0042]

Oddly enough I think that's one of the nicest things Fotze has ever called me.

[Red Mile Style]

Oh I get it! A cheeseball!!!!

ha ha ha!

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

Well....he set up a collage fund for his kids and put some aside for his sweet old mom. I am sure the IRS took a third (and he gave it gladly knowing what is happening to Richard from season one -"The 45-year-old remains in prison after being found guilty of not paying taxes on the US$1 million prize he won on the debut season of Survivor. He was sentenced in May to serve 51 months at a minimum-security facility in West Virginia.").

Being debt free is a big deal today! Consumer debt is the highest it has ever been - he could have been near bankruptcy for all we know.

Wasn't he a teen counselor? Hence the Teen charity fund.

Good for him!!

That may be the case....but we really don't know how much he spent were. As for that idiot Hatch....someone that stupid deserves 51 months in prison. And not like Canada, he will serve most of that time.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

That may be the case....but we really don't know how much he spent were. As for that idiot Hatch....someone that stupid deserves 51 months in prison. And not like Canada, he will serve most of that time.

Except in Canada our government is fair and doesn't jack you up for your lottery winnings.

[Red Mile Style]

Originally Posted by fotze

Ohhh, I meant it to be a slivered almond encrusted elephant testicle, but cheeseball works too.

ha ha ha!

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Except in Canada our government is fair and doesn't jack you up for your lottery winnings.

True...but can't people write off some of their losses? That may be wrong but I thought thats how it works, in Canada you don't pay any taxes but you cannot right off any amount used. In the US I thought you can write off a certain amount.

Such as...in the US, cannot you not write off a home lotto ticket? If you win then you have to pay taxes.

Does anybody know for sure?

[Bobblehead]

Wow, it would have been nice if he saved something for himself but it sounds like the foundation he set up are doing some great work, and he sounds happy.

[Bleeding Red]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

That may be the case....but we really don't know how much he spent were. As for that idiot Hatch....someone that stupid deserves 51 months in prison. And not like Canada, he will serve most of that time.

I don't think Hatch was an idiot - He had a fair argument - The money was earned outside the US, therefore was not subject to US taxes, but was subject to the taxes of the country in which the show was filmed.

The IRS just has better lawyers.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

I don't think Hatch was an idiot - He had a fair argument - The money was earned outside the US, therefore was not subject to US taxes, but was subject to the taxes of the country in which the show was filmed.

The IRS just has better lawyers.

Not sure how US tax law works in this area but in Canada, you have to pay Canadian taxes on your worldwide income, regardless of where you physically worked, if certain criteria have been met. These factors can include duration in Canada, property interests, and general / financial ties back to the community.

I just don't think he paid any attention to the taxation issues, period. He blindly made an assumption and now he's doing time for it.

[BlackEleven]

Stephenie LaGrossa
The two-time Survivor made the final cut as the new in-arena host at Philadelphia Flyers games. LaGrossa, who has been modelling and making personal and TV, has been hired to rally the crowd.

That's interesting. I don't really know what "modelling and making personal and TV" entails, but its interesting that she's the host of Flyers games. I wonder what she does exactly...

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

I don't think Hatch was an idiot - He had a fair argument - The money was earned outside the US, therefore was not subject to US taxes, but was subject to the taxes of the country in which the show was filmed.

The IRS just has better lawyers.

Just don't try this at home (assuming you are Canadian or live in Canada). I'm not a tax lawyer but in Canada, and many other countries, I believe you are taxed on world-wide income. Many tax treaties exist, however, to ensure that you don't pay income tax twice for the same income.

Edit: IHH beat me to the punch and did a better job...

[Hakan]

I've thought for a while now that the best thing to do with your lottery winnings would be to set up a foundation in your name for a cause you care about. You then hire yourself as the Director, hire a staff to go do research, invest the money as an endowment and then give out research grants, scholarships, awards, etc. You have a sense of purpose, you give back and you aren't blowing your stack on solid gold toilets and other deplorable things that idiots with money spend their wad on.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

I don't think Hatch was an idiot - He had a fair argument - The money was earned outside the US, therefore was not subject to US taxes, but was subject to the taxes of the country in which the show was filmed.

The IRS just has better lawyers.

From what I understand he did not report it. He could have and should have reported it. When they asked for their share, thats when he could have taken his arguement to court to prove his point.

[Agamemnon]

Maybe the issue was that Hatch brought the money into the US without declaring it. I have offshore accounts where I can make whatever money I want, completely untaxable. But once I try to bring it into this country it counts as income and gets taxed like income. Might be Hatch brought some of it in without declaring it... if he earned it in a tax-haven country, and the money went straight from the show to his offshore account, and he never brought it in to the US, then he should have been fine. I guess this wasn't the case (though I'm no tax expert).

[Sylvanfan]

I would like to see one of the contestants on the show say something like well I'm actually trying to win 600 grand for myself and the honor of giving the IRS 400 grand in taxes.

[White Doors]

Ok, good that he gave money away, but to spend all his money in two weeks? That is just dumb.