
10/07/2025
The Handshake Deal of a Lifetime: Two Friends Split a $22 Million Jackpot! 🤯💰
In 1992, two fishing buddies from Wisconsin, Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney, made a simple, verbal agreement: if either of them ever won the Powerball jackpot, they would split the prize. There was no contract, no witnesses—just a gentleman's word between two friends.
A Promise Honored 28 Years Later
The incredible moment arrived 28 years later, in 2020, when Thomas Cook bought a Powerball ticket and hit the $22 million jackpot!
True to his word and the decades-old agreement, Cook didn't hesitate for a second. He immediately called Feeney and delivered the life-changing news: they were both millionaires.
Integrity Over Greed
They chose the lump sum cash option, and after federal and state taxes, each friend walked away with roughly $5.7 million!
Their story stood out globally not just because of the massive lottery win, but because it was a powerful, rare example of someone honoring a decades-old promise when no one would have blamed him for forgetting. It proves that a handshake between true friends can be worth millions.
What historical promise do you think was the most difficult to keep? Share your thoughts! 👇