BAYVILLE – An Ocean County carpenter plans to pay off his mortgage after winning $2 million playing Mega Millions, but he has no intention of putting down his tools.
The winner, whose name was not released, bought his Quick Pick ticket at Country Food Market, 941 Route 9 in Bayville, for the Oct. 6 drawing, according to the New Jersey Lottery.
His ticket matched all five white balls — 26, 32, 42, 51 and 54 — earning a $1 million prize. A 2X multiplier increased the payout to $2 million.
The ticket’s Mega Ball was 21, while the number drawn was 22. Matching that final ball would have landed him the $345 million jackpot.
The carpenter discovered his win Oct. 8. A regular player whose previous prizes had topped out at $1,500, he repeatedly examined the ticket as he tried to absorb what had happened, lottery officials said.
He remained stunned when he arrived at lottery headquarters with his wife to collect the prize.
The couple spent hours discussing their windfall at home, sharing the news with their dog as they kept the development private. Despite getting little sleep that night, the winner reported to work the following morning.
Along with eliminating his mortgage, he hopes to tackle remodeling projects at home. He told lottery officials that building things remains an important part of his life and that retirement is not among his plans.
The lottery also announced that an Essex County man claimed a $1,784,870 Jersey Cash 5 prize from the Oct. 3 drawing.
That ticket was purchased at El Caballo Blanco #2, 690 Mount Prospect Ave. in Newark, and matched the numbers 5, 10, 15, 16 and 18. The winner called his wife after learning of the prize, officials said.
