Publishers Clearing House Winners Say They Aren’t Receiving Lifetime Payments

Several Publishers Clearing House winners claim they are no longer receiving their promised lifetime payouts — and it’s having a devastating effect on their lives.

The company declared bankruptcy in April, and an investigation by Oregon outlet KGW8 found that at least 10 past winners who had been receiving annual payouts never received their yearly check.

“Why didn’t somebody give me a heads up? [Say], ‘Hey, we’re going out of business,’ ” former winner John Wyllie of White City asked while speaking to the outlet. “It’s not a good way to treat anyone.”

Wyllie, 61, who won $260,000 a year for life from Publishers Clearing House in 2012, said the money had allowed him to retire early and move closer to family. Now, however, he said things are looking bleak.

“This feels like a nightmare. I thought this was going to go on for the rest of my life, so I didn’t really have to worry about money,” he said before adding that he has been having trouble finding work and will likely lose his home.

KGW8 also spoke to Matthew and Tamar Veatch, a Cottage Grove couple who won the lifetime payout in 2021. The pair, who are both army veterans with disabilities, said the money has also stopped coming, and they are currently dealing with the emotional, financial and psychological roller coaster of their new reality.

“It’s cruel,” Matthew said while discussing the fact that his family thought they had won guaranteed financial security, only to have it abruptly taken from them. “It’s worse to say you’ll get this thing and your life will change forever, [and then say] ‘Oh, but sorry. No, it’s not.’ “

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The couple also said that they initially called Publishers Clearing House when they did not receive their annual check, and claimed that a representative from the company told them the payments would resume quarterly. They said the company filed for bankruptcy shortly thereafter, and the money never came.

“It’s unfortunate there was no warning,” Matthew told the outlet. “The big letdown for me is that we trusted them.”

ARB Interactive bought Publishers Clearing House out of bankruptcy in July and stated that they plan to run sweepstakes under the Publishers Clearing House brand name.

“At ARB Interactive, we are committed to restoring and preserving the trust that has defined the Publishers Clearing House (PCH) brand for decades,” a representative from ARB Interactive wrote in an emailed statement to PEOPLE.

The company added that while they are not responsible for the payment of prize money won before their acquisition of Publishers Clearing House, they have assumed responsibility for prizes awarded after July 15, 2025, as well as a SuperPrize from May 31.

“We recognize the impact this has had on past winners and the disappointment caused by the bankruptcy process,” the ARB Interactive rep continued, adding that they plan to “implement a robust, paying structure” that will “ensure that prize winners are protected [and] that payments are secure for the long term.”

The company said “as part of the acquisition, ARB also contributed a substantial cash payment to the bankruptcy estate,” which is technically responsible for paying past winners.

PEOPLE reached out to Publishers Clearing House for comment on Sunday, Sept. 7, but did not receive an immediate response. 

Darrell Lester, who worked as a senior vice president for Publishers Clearing House from 1973 through 2022, said he is “really angry” over the way the company handled its financial situation while speaking to The Daily Mail. 

However, he also said there are lessons to be learned from the alleged recent turn of events for other potential winners. Specifically, he recommends taking the full sum over an annual lifetime payout should you have the option.

“If you win, take the lump sum. If a state or company goes bankrupt, they don’t have to pay the winnings,” he told the outlet.

While Darrell told the outlet this means winners will pay more in taxes upfront, he argues it is worth it to secure the funds.

Publishers Clearing House filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York State in April, according to the Associated Press. At the time, the company claimed that there would be no disruptions to its regular payout protocols and structures throughout the bankruptcy process, per the outlet.