She Won a Fortune With a Cookie
<p>Carolyn Gurtz, a Maryland resident, took the million-dollar grand prize in the Pillsbury Bake-Off with her Double Delight Peanut Butter Cookie. <i><b>As told to Wendy Tiefenbacher.</b></i></p>
What was your strategy for winning? It took me a while to figure it out. I've entered for most of the past 15 years, but this was the first time I was among the 100 finalists. I think the two secrets are to make your recipe easy to prepare and to make sure it appeals to all ages. And you have to in-corporate some of the sponsors' ingredients.
The Winning Recipe | |
Row 1 - Cell 0 | Recent 'My Story' Profiles |
Row 2 - Cell 0 | Complete 2007 'My Story' Collection |
What are you going to do with $1 million? The money is awarded as an annuity, so I'll receive $50,000 a year for the next 20 years. And we have to remember that the $50,000 is more like $30,000 a year, after taxes. Fortunately, my husband has 25 years of experience as a financial planner. We will spend some on our family and give some to our church. And it will certainly help with our retirement.
Didn't you win appliances, too? I get $10,000 worth of appliances, and we have to pay $3,000 to $4,000 in taxes on them. We're not complaining. We plan to redo our kitchen.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Can you tell us a little more about how you'll handle the money? When you win money like this, you have to make a list of what you want to do before spending it or giving it away. We've already been contacted by people offering to buy our annuity for a lump sum, but we have no intention of doing that. We plan to be a little more aggressive in our investing. But I have no desire to market my cookie, write a cookbook or anything else.
Are you doing a lot of media interviews? I've done several radio interviews, and I've been invited to appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. I'll be the straight man in the middle between Jay and an invited guest, probably a comedian. They'll be telling jokes on either side of me while I'm baking the cookies. I've also appeared on the Today Show. They pampered me with a stylist and a hair-and-makeup person. Treated me like a celebrity. They even had someone who had actually baked the cookies using my recipe. It all happened to fall on the day that the Pope was visiting, and the other segments of the show were preempted -- except my cookie segment. I felt blessed that day.
To continue reading this article
please register for free
This is different from signing in to your print subscription
Why am I seeing this? Find out more here
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Run Out of Steam Ahead of Meta Earnings
The Dow Jones Industrial Average snapped a four-day winning streak after Boeing's first-quarter results.
By Karee Venema Published
-
One-Third of Parents Are Paying An Adult Child's House Down Payment? Are You?
As housing costs soar, Gen Z and Millennial home buyers are turning to family for help with down payments.
By Kathryn Pomroy Published
-
403(b) Contribution Limits for 2024
retirement plans Teachers and nonprofit workers can contribute more to a 403(b) retirement plan in 2024 than they could in 2023.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2024
Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up for 2024. Here's what you need to know.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
Best Foreclosure Sites for Finding Properties
Making Your Money Last Wondering how to find foreclosed homes for sale for your next residence or to flip for a profit? These websites will guide you to foreclosures and real estate-owned properties to buy.
By Bob Niedt Last updated
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb
real estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
By Miriam Cross Published
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute Vacation
Travel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
By Vaishali Varu Last updated
-
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
insurance Instead of relying on rules of thumb, you’re better off taking a systematic approach to figuring your life-insurance needs.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
-
When Is Amazon Prime Day?
Amazon Prime In 2023 Amazon had two Prime Day events — one in July and another, called Big Deal Days, in October. We expect 2024 to follow the same schedule.
By Bob Niedt Last updated
-
How to Shop for Life Insurance in 3 Easy Steps
insurance Shopping for life insurance? You may be able to estimate how much you need online, but that's just the start of your search.
By Kaitlin Pitsker Published