Ep011:

Taking On a $16 Million Lottery Scam

A $16 million lottery ticket sits unclaimed. Hours before the deadline, an anonymous figure tries to cash in through a Belize shell company—triggering one of the boldest insider frauds in U.S. lottery history. As CEO of the Iowa Lottery, Terry Rich chose to confront the scandal in daylight rather than bury it in silence. He shares how a web of small clues—from surveillance audio to a “two hot dogs” alibi—helped investigators trace a rigged system across multiple states, and why transparency, not damage control, ultimately rebuilt public trust.

But Terry’s story goes far beyond the lottery. From helping launch MTV and HBO to reinventing a struggling zoo with cheeky ideas like “Scoop on Poop” and “Zoo Brew,” his career is a masterclass in creativity, integrity, and unconventional leadership. This episode dives into how bold ideas, honest communication, and smart risk-taking can turn even a crisis into a defining success.