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Rich people who gambled their family fortunes away

The famous names who staked everything on their parents' wealth
Clarissa Dickson Wright: $31.7 million (£24m) in today's money
Clarissa Dickson Wright: $31.7 million (£24m) in today's money
Clarissa Dickson Wright: $31.7 million (£24m) in today's money
Clarissa Dickson Wright: $31.7 million (£24m) in today's money
Maureen O'Connor: $93 million (£70.4m)
Maureen O'Connor: $93 million (£70.4m)
Maureen O'Connor: $93 million (£70.4m)
Maureen O'Connor: $93 million (£70.4m)
Terrance Watanabe: $272 million (£205m)
Terrance Watanabe: $272 million (£205m)
Terrance Watanabe: $272 million (£205m)
Terrance Watanabe: $272 million (£205m)
Clint Murchison Jr: $1.5 billion (£1.1bn)
Clint Murchison Jr: $1.5 billion (£1.1bn)
Clint Murchison Jr: $1.5 billion (£1.1bn)
Clint Murchison Jr: $1.5 billion (£1.1bn)
Nick Dandolos: $4.3 billion (£3.2bn)
Nick Dandolos: $4.3 billion (£3.2bn)
Nick Dandolos: $4.3 billion (£3.2bn)
Nick Dandolos: $4.3 billion (£3.2bn)
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Jon Brenneis / Contributor / Getty Images

The famous names who staked everything on their parents' wealth

What would you do if somebody handed you a fortune on a plate? You might spend it on experiences, such as travelling the world, or perhaps invest it for the future – but that's not what these people did.

From a professional gambler who squandered his life savings to a former mayor who gambled as way of coping with tragedy, read on for the sad stories of five people who inherited unbelievable sums but gambled them all away. All dollar amounts in US dollars unless stated.

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Alice Cattley

11 January 2022

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