Ruth Madoff (born May 18, 1941) is the widow of Bernie Madoff, the convicted American financial fraudster who served a prison sentence for a criminal financial scheme until his death in April 2021. After her husband’s arrest for his fraud, she and her husband attempted suicide in 2008.

Did Ruth Madoff win the lottery?

The universe has a sick sense of humor. In a bizarre twist of fate, a Maryland state official let slip to reporters that one of the three winners of the $600-plus million lottery is none other than Ruth Madoff.

Rich Hill, director of the Maryland Lottery & Gaming Commission, told reporters that although Maryland law allows lottery winners to collect anonymously, he felt compelled to reveal the name of the winner because “this windfall may be of interest to the trustee who is attempting to collect Bernie Madoff’s assets and repair the damage done to his victims.”

Today, Ruth has come down from her princess perch. Following the 2009 conviction of her husband for securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, false statements, perjury, false filings with the SEC, and theft from an employee benefit plan, Ruth forfeited a good portion of her wealth and moved to Boca Raton, Florida, to shack up with her sister.