These days, promises often vanish as quickly as they are made. Plans are canceled with an emoji, and commitments can be forgotten in an instant. That’s why a simple agreement between two friends from Wisconsin feels so striking. Nearly thirty years ago, over a casual cup of coffee, they made a lighthearted deal—one that would eventually be worth millions. Against the odds, both men honored their promise. It’s a reminder that loyalty and integrity still matter.
The Handshake That Meant Something
In 1992, Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney agreed that if either of them ever won the Powerball jackpot, they would split the winnings evenly. It was an offhand, “why not?” arrangement between friends—something shared with a laugh and then tucked away.
Fast-forward to June 2020. Cook stopped at a gas station in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and bought a Powerball ticket. The next morning at breakfast, he began to match the numbers one by one. As the realization set in, Cook called his longtime friend to share the news and honor the decades-old pact.
Joe’s first reaction was disbelief. “Are you jerking my bobber?” he joked, thinking his fishing buddy might be pulling a prank. But Cook was serious. The ticket turned out to be a jackpot winner worth $22 million, and Cook followed through on their handshake: Joe would receive half.
Opting for the lump-sum cash option, the pair took home about $16.7 million before taxes. After deductions, each man received roughly $5.7 million. Cook soon retired, and Joe had already stepped back from his firefighting career. Their story represented Wisconsin’s 18th Powerball jackpot since their agreement.
Fishing Buddies Turned Millionaires
Rather than splurging recklessly, the friends stayed grounded. Their plans were modest and meaningful: family time, fishing trips, and travel. They’d already enjoyed road trips together with their wives—once cruising in a Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible—and they looked forward to more adventures in something sleeker this time around.
“We can pursue what we feel comfortable with,” Cook said, capturing their approach to sudden wealth. The money gave them the freedom to enjoy life on their own terms—spending more hours on the water, visiting loved ones, and savoring the companionship that had lasted for decades.
The story resonated because it highlighted integrity above all. Legally, Cook didn’t owe Joe a share, but he honored the handshake as if it were a written contract. “A handshake’s a handshake, man,” Cook said, and his actions backed up the words.
The Wisconsin Lottery director reflected on the unusual moment: the combination of friendship and principle had produced a powerful outcome. In an age when promises are often fleeting, the two men’s loyalty and trust in one another stood out—proving that old-fashioned agreements can still carry real meaning.