Tonda Dickerson: A $10 Million Lottery Win That Sparked Chaos
Imagine you’re a waitress at a small Waffle House, serving coffee and hashbrowns to regular customers day after day. Then, one Sunday morning, a customer hands you a lottery ticket as a tip. You don’t think much of it—until you find out it’s worth $10 million. That’s exactly what happened to Tonda Dickerson on March 7, 1999. What should have been a dream come true turned into a rollercoaster of lawsuits, betrayal, and even a terrifying kidnapping attempt. This is her story, packed with twists and turns, and it’s all laid out for you right here on Phacts.
Tonda was just a regular woman in her late 20s, working hard at the Waffle House in Grand Bay, Alabama. She was divorced and trying to make ends meet. Little did she know, a single moment would flip her life upside down—and not always in a good way. Let’s dive into the details of how Tonda Dickerson’s $10 million lottery win became one of the most dramatic tales of fortune and misfortune.
The Day That Changed Everything
It was a typical Sunday shift at the Waffle House when Edward Seward walked in. Edward was a truck driver and a familiar face at the restaurant. He had a quirky habit of buying lottery tickets in Florida—where lotteries were legal, unlike Alabama—and handing them out to friends, family, and even the Waffle House staff as little gifts or tips. On March 7, 1999, he gave Tonda one of those tickets. It was for the Florida Lottery, and the drawing was set for the following Saturday, March 13.
Tonda tucked the ticket away, probably not expecting much. After all, how often does a random tip turn into a jackpot? But when the numbers were drawn that Saturday night, Tonda checked her ticket and couldn’t believe her eyes. She had won $10 million. Suddenly, this hardworking waitress was a millionaire—or so she thought. The win came with two options: take a lump sum of about $5 million right away or get $375,000 every year for 30 years. Tonda chose the yearly payments, a decision many financial experts call smart because it spreads the money out over time. But the money wasn’t in her hands yet, and trouble was already brewing.
Trouble at the Waffle House
Tonda wasn’t the only one who got a ticket from Edward that week. He had handed out tickets to four other Waffle House workers too. None of their tickets won, but Tonda’s did—and that’s when things got messy. Her coworkers—Sandra Deno, Angie Tisdale, Matthew Adams, and Jackie Fairley—claimed there was a deal. They said the staff had agreed that if anyone won big from one of Edward’s tickets, they’d split the money equally. To them, Tonda’s $10 million wasn’t just hers; it was theirs too.
Tonda saw it differently. She argued that the ticket was a tip given directly to her, not a group prize. There was no written contract, just talk among coworkers, and she didn’t think that talk meant she had to share. But her coworkers weren’t backing down. Less than a month after her win, on March 18, 1999, they took her to court in Mobile County, Alabama. They even asked the judge to freeze Tonda’s winnings until the case was settled, meaning she couldn’t touch a penny of her fortune yet.
The First Court Battle
The courtroom showdown began in April 1999. Tonda’s coworkers told the jury about their supposed agreement. They said it was a standing deal among the staff—any lottery win from a customer’s tip would be shared. To back them up, a couple who often ate at the Waffle House testified that Tonda had once mentioned this plan to them. It sounded convincing, and after just 45 minutes of thinking it over, the jury sided with the coworkers. They ruled that Tonda had to give 80% of her winnings—$8 million—to the other four, leaving her with only $2 million.
Tonda’s lawyer wasn’t happy. He called her coworkers “rats coming out of the woodwork,” hinting they were just jealous and greedy. Before the trial, they had offered Tonda a deal: keep $3 million and give them the rest. She turned it down, betting she could keep it all. Now, that bet seemed to have backfired. Tonda left the courtroom silent, her dream of millions slipping away. But she wasn’t done fighting.
A Big Win at the Alabama Supreme Court
Tonda hired a new lawyer and appealed the decision to the Alabama Supreme Court. This time, her team had a clever argument: even if there was an agreement to share the money, it didn’t matter because it wasn’t legal. In Alabama, gambling—like lotteries—is against the law. The court agreed that a deal to split lottery winnings was based on “gambling consideration,” which made it unenforceable in the state. On February 18, 2000, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s ruling. Tonda could keep every cent of her $10 million. Her coworkers got nothing.
This was a huge victory for Tonda, but it didn’t win her any friends at the Waffle House. She had already quit her job after the win, and now her old coworkers were furious. The legal battle had taken almost a year, and Tonda was finally free to enjoy her money—or so she hoped. But more trouble was on the horizon.
Edward Seward Wants a Truck
Just when Tonda thought the lawsuits were over, Edward Seward—the man who gave her the ticket—stepped back into the picture. In 2002, nearly three years after her win, he sued her too. Edward claimed that when he handed out tickets, the Waffle House staff, including Tonda, had promised to buy him a new truck if one of them won big. He said it was a casual deal, but he expected her to follow through now that she was rich.
Tonda’s lawyers argued it was just a throwaway comment, not a real promise. The case went to a Mobile County judge, who didn’t buy Edward’s story. In February 2002, the judge threw out the lawsuit, saying there wasn’t enough proof of a solid agreement. Edward walked away empty-handed, and Tonda dodged another bullet. But that same week, her life took a much darker turn.
A Kidnapping Gone Wrong
Tonda’s ex-husband, Stacy Martin, had been out of her life since their divorce in 1997. But in February 2002, just days after Edward’s lawsuit was dismissed, Stacy came back with a vengeance. He was in his late 40s now and apparently desperate for a piece of Tonda’s fortune. One day, while Tonda was driving her truck in Jackson County, Mississippi—just across the state line from Alabama—Stacy forced his way in. He was armed with a .22-caliber handgun and had one goal: get Tonda’s money.
Stacy drove her to a lonely boat launch at Bayou Heron, a quiet, isolated spot. He told her he’d kill her if she didn’t give in. Tonda’s phone rang during the drive, but Stacy wouldn’t let her answer, threatening her life if she tried. When they got to the boat launch, her phone rang again. Tonda begged him to let her pick it up, saying people would start looking for her if she didn’t respond. Finally, he gave in.
This was Tonda’s chance. As she reached into her purse to grab her phone, she pulled out her own .22-caliber handgun instead. Stacy lunged at her, and she fired, hitting him in the chest. He didn’t die, but he was hurt bad. In a panic, Stacy grabbed the gun from her and threatened to kill her and then himself. Tonda stayed calm and talked him down, convincing him to get help for his wound. They drove to a hospital, where police got involved.
Surprisingly, no charges were filed against either of them. It was ruled self-defense on Tonda’s part, and Stacy’s actions didn’t lead to a conviction. The ordeal left Tonda shaken, but alive—and still in control of her millions.
The IRS Comes Knocking
You’d think Tonda’s troubles were over, but the government had other plans. After her win, Tonda set up a company called 9 Mill with her family. She kept 49% of it, and her parents and siblings split the other 51%. The idea was to funnel her lottery payments through the company and share the wealth with her loved ones. It seemed like a smart move—until the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) got involved.
In 2007, the IRS said Tonda owed about $771,000 in “gift taxes” because she had given away part of her winnings to her family through 9 Mill. Tonda fought back, saying it wasn’t a gift—she claimed her family had always agreed to share any big lottery win. She took the IRS to court, and in March 2012, the U.S. Tax Court made a decision. They agreed she owed some tax, but not as much as the IRS wanted. Because her coworkers had tied up the money in lawsuits back in 1999, the court said the winnings were worth less at the time she shared them. In the end, Tonda had to pay $1,119,348—still a big chunk, but she kept most of her fortune.
Where Is Tonda Now?
After years of legal fights, a kidnapping, and tax battles, what happened to Tonda Dickerson? She faded from the headlines, but bits of her life have popped up online. Her social media suggests she’s living in Biloxi, Mississippi, working as a poker dealer at the Golden Nugget casino. It’s a far cry from her Waffle House days, and it shows she’s still hustling despite her millions. She’s remarried, now going by Tonda Dickerson Nava, and seems to enjoy a quieter life with family and friends.
Tonda’s story is a wild ride of luck and struggle. She won $10 million from a simple tip, but it came with a price—lawsuits, danger, and years of stress. Yet she came out on top, keeping most of her money and her freedom.
What Can We Learn From Tonda’s $10 Million Lottery Win?
Tonda Dickerson’s $10 million lottery win teaches us a lot. First, big money can bring big problems. Her coworkers turned on her, a customer sued her, and even her ex-husband tried to cash in. Second, having a plan matters. Tonda’s choice to take yearly payments and set up a company showed she was thinking ahead, even if the IRS complicated things. Finally, staying strong pays off. Through every challenge, Tonda fought back and held onto her fortune.
Her tale is a reminder that luck doesn’t always mean an easy life. It’s a mix of good and bad, and how you handle it makes all the difference.
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