When Denise Rossi won $1.3 million in the California lotto, she kept the news to herself and abruptly demanded a divorce from her husband Thomas without a word.

Thomas was shocked but agreed to divorce her anyway. During the proceedings, Denise continued to keep her good fortune a secret.

Two years later, Thomas intercepted a letter at his new Los Angeles home revealing the truth.

He sued Denise for not disclosing her winnings in the divorce, and the judge awarded Thomas every cent.

Even Denise's lawyer admitted to People that Denise could have kept half her winnings if she had been honest with her then-husband. "Her failure to disclose was a fraud," the lawyer said.

Meanwhile, Thomas Rossi is enjoying his $48,000-a-year payouts.

"If it wasn't for the lotto, Denise and I would probably still be together. Things worked out for the best," he said.