These days, promises rarely last. People cancel plans with an emoji and forget commitments as quickly as they make them. That’s why a simple agreement between two Wisconsin friends has stood out. Nearly thirty years ago, they made a lighthearted deal over coffee—one that would eventually be worth millions. Against all odds, they both kept their word. It’s the kind of story that reminds you loyalty can still mean something.
The Handshake That Actually Meant Something
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In 1992, Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney made an agreement: if either one ever hit the Powerball jackpot, they’d split the winnings evenly. It was a casual, “why not” kind of conversation over coffee, the sort of thing friends laugh about and then move on.
Fast-forward to June 2020, when Cook stopped at a Menomonie gas station in Wisconsin and bought a Powerball ticket. The next morning, while eating breakfast, he started matching the numbers one by one. When the realization hit, he and his froze. Once he caught his breath, he made the call that would turn an old promise into a life-altering event.
Joe’s first reaction was disbelief. “Are you jerking my bobber?” he asked, laughing at the thought that his fishing buddy might be pulling a prank. But Cook was serious. The ticket was worth $22 million, and half of it belonged to Joe.
According to the Wisconsin Lottery, the pair chose the cash option of about $16.7 million, which left each with roughly $5.7 million after taxes. Cook retired soon after, while Joe had already stepped back from his job as a firefighter. It was Wisconsin’s 18th Powerball jackpot since they made their handshake deal.
Fishing Buddies Turned Millionaires
Instead of spending wildly, the lifelong friends stayed grounded. Their first thoughts were about family, fishing, and travel. They had already taken road trips with their wives, once in a Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible, and planned to do it again this time in something more sleek.
Cook summed it up best: “We can pursue what we feel comfortable with.” They wanted more time to enjoy life, cast a line, and appreciate a friendship built on trust.
The story spread quickly because it highlighted integrity. Cook didn’t owe Joe anything legally, yet he honored that handshake like a written contract. “A handshake’s a handshake, man,” he said.
As the Wisconsin Lottery director said, “The power of friendship and a handshake has paid off.”