Publishers Clearing House went bankrupt and suddenly lifelong prize checks stopped arriving for people who counted on them.

“Publishers Clearing House filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April, citing mounting financial constraints. The filing revealed the company had amassed liabilities between $50 and $100 million, but had available assets between $1 and $10 million. In July, the company was acquired out of bankruptcy protection by mobile gaming platform, ARB Interactive, for $7.1 million. ARB says it is not responsible to continue awarding any prize money awarded before July 15.” Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/publishers-clearing-house-bankruptcy-leaves-lifetime-winners-empty-handed/ar-AA1MUqeN

“John Wyllie was awarded $5,000 a week by Publishers Clearing House in 2012. With the money, he retired and restructured his life. At the start of every year since, Wyllie received a check for $260,000. This year, the check did not come. ‘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,’ Wyllie told KGW-TV. ‘Pretty sure I’m going to lose my home.’” Source: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/publishers-clearing-house-bankruptcy-leaves-past-winners-unpaid-091525.html

“Tamar and Matthew Veatch, disabled Army veterans in Oregon raising three children, had relied on nearly $200,000 a year in Publishers Clearing House prize money since 2021. They said the loss of their July payment left them unable to cover back taxes and mounting household bills.” Source: https://www.bankruptcynearme.org/blog/publishers-clearing-house-bankruptcy-2025-why-it-filed-what-it-means-and-whats-next