Blowing millions – sad tales of woe
This October, Mzansi Magic takes a thought-provoking look into the lives of South Africans who received an unexpected windfall, and in an instant, blew it all.
This sometimes humorous, often tragic documentary takes a deep look into the psyche of ordinary South Africans and how they’ve acted when presented wealth beyond their wildest dreams.
I Blew It explores the heady intoxication of life with no monetary restrictions, and the sudden change in relationships and family dynamics.
The show creates a dialogue about the psychology of money and the influence or wealth it comes with, through the stories of ordinary people.
Each episode covers the story of a single participant, starting with their unexpected acquisition of wealth, followed by how the money was “blown”, ending with where the person is now – very often finding themselves in a worse financial state than before.
Take, 32-year-old Nonhlanhla who received a lumpsum payout of R1m in 2017. She blew the money in less than a year.
She did minor renovations to her family home (owned by her grandmother) and took her mother’s advice to invest in a VW Caravelle Kombi. Then she went on a spending spree, indulging her whole family on an extravagant shopping spree at Maponya Mall.
Then there’s Thabo, who won R1.8m in the National Lottery when he was 30 years old.
He blew the money within three years, but has great memories of his high-balling lifestyle.
M-Net local entertainment channels director Reneilwe Sema commented on the appeal of this brand new format.
“I Blew It tackles some important sociological questions most of us have often caught ourselves asking, such as: What would I do if I suddenly became wealthy overnight? How does one manage to blow millions of rands in such a short space of time, often becoming poorer than before?
“The subject matter is truly fascinating and many of the characters and their stories are so uniquely South African, that our viewers will identify from the onset.”
This original M-Net format is produced by Bonngoe TV in collaboration with Media 360°.
Catch I Blew It season one, every Saturday starting on October 6 at 7.30pm. Also follow the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and at mzansimagic.com.
The show creates a dialogue about the psychology of money and its influence