My Lottery Dream Home – Heartbreakiпg Tragedy of David Bromstad from My Lottery Dream Home | HO!!

Behind the Glitter: The Hidden Pain of America’s Favorite Dream Maker

For millions of Americans, David Bromstad is the personification of joy. As the exuberant, color-loving host of HGTV’s My Lottery Dream Home, he seems to glide through life with effortless style and boundless optimism, helping ordinary people turn windfalls into dream houses. But behind the dazzling smile and signature tattoos lies a story far more complicated—and heartbreaking—than viewers could possibly imagine.

This is the untold story of David Bromstad: a journey from small-town torment to national fame, shadowed by betrayal, loss, and the kind of pain that nearly shattered the man behind the camera. His is a story not just of design, but of survival.

The Bullying That Broke Him

Long before he was a TV star, David Bromstad was a quiet, artistic child growing up in Cokato, Minnesota—a conservative Scandinavian-American town where difference was not celebrated. “I was always the oddball,” he once told Out Magazine. “I loved art, I loved color, I was expressive. And in my world, that made me a target.”

By high school, the teasing became relentless. But nothing could have prepared David for the day his world would change forever. In a moment he later described as “daylight hell,” more than 600 classmates in the school cafeteria stood, in unison, to mock and ridicule him. Even the principal joined in. No teacher intervened. No counselor reached out.

For David, it was more than bullying. It was betrayal—by peers, by adults, by the very system meant to protect him. He withdrew, haunted by humiliation and a creeping sense of isolation that would follow him for years. “After that day, nothing felt safe,” he recalled. “The hallways were battlefields. The cafeteria was a war zone.”

Art as Survival

In the aftermath, David found solace in the only place left: art. He poured his pain into sketchbooks and canvases, using color as both shield and sword. “Art was my escape,” he would later say. “Every bright color was a way to fight the darkness inside me.”

What began as survival would become his signature. The bold palettes, the fearless patterns, the exuberant designs that now define his career were forged in those lonely, painful years. “People think my style is just cheerful,” David has said. “But it’s really defiance—a rebellion against the grayness of my past.”

The Disney Dream: Built and Broken

After high school, David pursued his childhood dream: working for Disney. He enrolled at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida, a pipeline to Disney’s storied animation studios. For the first time, he found a place where creativity was celebrated, not condemned.

Landing a job as a Disney animator was a fantasy come true. Surrounded by fellow artists, David finally felt he belonged. “I thought I’d made it,” he said. “I was living my dream.”

But the dream was short-lived. In the early 2000s, Disney’s animation division was rocked by massive layoffs as the company shifted from traditional hand-drawn animation to CGI. David’s department was gutted. Suddenly, he was jobless and untethered.

“It wasn’t just a job loss,” David later admitted. “It was losing everything I’d worked for—acceptance, purpose, identity.” The pain of rejection was compounded by financial hardship. He scraped by with odd jobs, painting murals, and designing children’s rooms for barely enough to pay the bills.

Reinvention: From Rock Bottom to Reality TV

Out of desperation, David reinvented himself. He channeled his pain into interior design, developing a style that was bolder, more expressive, and unmistakably his own. Word of mouth spread. Clients began to take notice.

In 2006, a friend persuaded him to audition for a new HGTV show: Design Star. David, still wounded from Disney’s rejection, had low expectations. But on camera, his warmth and creativity were magnetic. He not only competed—he won.

Design Star launched a new chapter. David became a household name, eventually landing the coveted role as host of My Lottery Dream Home. The bullied boy from Minnesota was now America’s dream maker.

The Lawsuit That Shattered His Reputation

By 2015, David’s career was soaring. But behind the scenes, his life was about to unravel in public. That year, his former partner and business associate, Jeffrey Glasko, filed a lawsuit in Florida court, accusing David of betrayal—both romantic and financial.

The suit alleged that David had misused shared assets for “illegal substances and escorts,” painting a portrait of excess that clashed with his wholesome TV persona. Fans were stunned. Was the beloved designer leading a double life?

David’s response was silence. No press conferences. No interviews. He let the legal process play out. In April 2016, the court dismissed the case, finding Glasko’s claims unsubstantiated and ordering him to pay David’s legal fees.

But the damage lingered. Tabloids speculated. Fans argued. Even after vindication, David’s reputation bore scars. “Sometimes, silence is the most powerful thing you can do,” he posted on Instagram—a rare public acknowledgment of the ordeal.

Family Crisis and Personal Loss

Just as the legal storm subsided, tragedy struck again. In early 2015, David’s close friend Greg Gerard suffered a devastating stroke. David became his advocate, launching fundraising campaigns and sharing the ups and downs of Greg’s recovery with fans.

Then, in January 2016, David’s father was hospitalized with life-threatening heart problems. The designer who brought joy to others now faced the helplessness of watching loved ones suffer. He canceled work, stayed by his father’s side, and shared raw, vulnerable updates with his followers.

These back-to-back crises forced David to reconsider his priorities. “Success wasn’t about ratings or fame anymore,” he later reflected. “It was about showing up for the people you love.”

Health Scare: The Oxygen Tube Panic

In May 2025, David’s fans were shocked by an Instagram photo. There he was, smiling but wearing a nasal oxygen tube. With no explanation, speculation ran wild. Was the beloved host gravely ill?

The next day, David clarified: the oxygen tube was for hyperbaric oxygen therapy—a wellness treatment, not a sign of illness. “Not sick—super healthy and thriving,” he wrote. The panic revealed just how deeply fans cared, but also how little they knew about the man behind the persona.

Quietly, David had been investing in his well-being—physically, mentally, emotionally. He began sharing more about his journey: breathwork, mindfulness, energy healing. “Healing isn’t always visible,” he explained. “Sometimes it’s about letting yourself be vulnerable.”

Rebirth and Creative Freedom

The David Bromstad fans see today is not just a survivor, but a man reborn. He retreated from the relentless pace of fame, focusing on authenticity, wellness, and self-expression. Social media posts became more personal: garden walks, messy art projects, coffee on the porch.

He found love again, building a home in Winter Park, Florida—a sanctuary filled with color and meaning. “This is my safe space,” he told one interviewer. “Every piece in this house tells my story.”

His fashion grew even bolder. Animal prints, glitter jackets, painted boots—each outfit a declaration: “I survived. I’m still here. And I refuse to dim.”

A Legacy Beyond Design

After nearly two decades in the spotlight, David’s legacy is about more than homes or ratings. He’s become a symbol for anyone who’s ever felt different, rejected, or broken. As HGTV’s first openly gay host, he didn’t lead with politics—he led with authenticity.

Fans admire his talent, but trust his heart. He’s spoken openly about depression, therapy, and the need for self-care. Through public speaking, charity work, and candid social media, he’s become a quiet mentor for resilience.

When the oxygen-tube photo sparked panic, David responded with honesty—not PR spin. “Healing isn’t always pretty,” he wrote. “But it’s worth it.”

From Pain to Purpose

David Bromstad’s journey is not just about building dream homes—it’s about building a life worth living, brick by brick, after everything has fallen apart. His cheerful exterior is not a mask, but the hard-won result of every heartbreak, every betrayal, every lesson learned.

For millions, he’s the man who makes dreams come true. But for those who know his story, he’s proof that beauty can come from pain, and light can be born from darkness.