World's Most Notorious Lottery Winner Has Been Arrested For The 5th Time Since Winning $167.3M Powerball Just Last Year
Newser – The clock struck 4am on Sunday in Georgetown, Kentucky, and a Powerball multimillionaire was allegedly asleep behind the wheel in a Walmart parking lot, engine running. Deputies say they found 51-year-old James Farthing—who won a $167.3 million jackpot in the spring of 2025—passed out in the passenger seat of a running Ford Mustang after the car was first spotted stopped in an intersection, People reports, citing local outlets. Officers reported smelling alcohol and pot, noting that Farthing was "manifestly under the influence," per WHAS.
Farthing allegedly claimed a woman had driven him there, but deputies say surveillance video showed no one exiting the car before police arrived. He was charged with alcohol intoxication in a public place, his fifth arrest since his record-setting lottery win, following prior cases in Florida and Kentucky involving alleged battery, burglary, and domestic violence, among other infractions. Farthing's arraignment is set for Tuesday, reports LEX News.
Scumbag or legend? Which way should I go with this? Obviously this man is a piece of shit. Last I checked in with ol' James Farthing, which was a little over a year ago, he had just won the Powerball. $167.3M from a gas station in Georgetown, Kentucky.
He also has a 16-page rap sheet. He's considered a "persistent felony offender" by the state of Kentucky. And what might even more incredible than winning the lottery, James Farthing has been locked up in 25 different correctional facilities over the span of 35 years. He's been to jail at least 42 times total (according to his available mugshots).
Here's a news story on James Farthing being tased and tackled by police officers. According to the dated footage, the incident happened exactly 3 days after he won the lottery in April 2025.
Since winning the lottery, he's been arrested 5 more times. Most notably, back in March he was arrested for breaking into a home and stealing $12,000 cash.
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In another instance he was charged with first-degree strangulation and fourth-degree assault of a woman following an argument. That was back in July.
Somehow he keeps getting out of jail. You'd think after roughly 50 arrests, and stays in upwards of 25 different jails, a judge would determine that he's clearly not fit to live in a society. By now, you'd think he'd have the "the book" thrown at him for good. But apparently that's not how it works in Kentucky, because just the other day James was found passed out drunk behind the wheel in a Walmart parking lot a 4 in the morning.
For James Farthing, surely a DUI in a Walmart parking lot violates about 10 different paroles. You would really think he might wind up behind bars for an extended period this time. But for whatever reason he always seems to get out. So if that's the case again… well it's about time somebody scoops him up for a reality TV show. A loose cannon who gets arrested once every couple months and also has millions of dollars to burn… now that's television. James Farthing should have a camera on him 24/7/365. For both entertainment and public safety purposes.
I'd love to know more about what purchases he's made since becoming a millionaire. He couldn't have possibly blown through it all already could he? I have to image there are people who came out of the woodwork when his lottery winnings went public. James strikes me as a guy who probably owes A LOT of people money. But still… even if he took home just $50M… that's so much money to blow in a single year living in Georgetown, Kentucky.
Yet months after he won, he was robbing somebody of $12,000 cash. I have to think that particular robbery was for the love of the game. Some people are just meant to live a life of crime, no matter how many millions of dollars they fall ass backwards into. James Farthing is basically living a life of Grand Theft Auto: Kentucky, just running around town aimlessly with unlimited money and nothing to do other than fuck shit up. Sounds pretty fun tbh. And if they plan to keep on letting him out of jail… well I'd imagine he keeps on doing it.