They Won Millions for Life. Until They Didn't.

The Journal podcast discusses the bankruptcy of Publishers Clearing House (PCH) and its impact on prize winners. It begins by describing PCH's history of selling magazine subscriptions and using sweepstakes, with the Prize Patrol delivering giant checks, to entice customers. The podcast then details PCH's financial struggles due to the shift to online commerce, rising costs, and an FTC settlement. The episode focuses on Tamar and Matthew Veatch, who won PCH's "Forever Prize" of $5,000 a week for life. After receiving payments for four years, PCH filed for bankruptcy and stopped paying, leaving Tamar and Matthew with little recourse as unsecured creditors. The podcast concludes with Tamar expressing disappointment in PCH's deception and the loss of trust.