The winner of New Jersey’s $847 million Powerball jackpot has yet to come forward, prompting lottery officials to urge players to check their tickets for what would be the second-largest jackpot ever won in the state.
The winning ticket was purchased Tuesday morning from an automated lottery machine at Wegmans Food Market in the upscale town of Montvale, where the median household income is $178,000.
“I think I’m here to declare that New Jersey is the luckiest state in the United States,” James Carey, executive director of the New Jersey Lottery, told reporters Thursday.
Wegmans will receive a $30,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. The store plans to donate the money to its “Check Out Hunger” campaign, which supports local food banks.
“We’re really excited about it. It goes directly to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, so we’re really proud to share that. It’s a huge honor, and we appreciate the opportunity to have sold the winning ticket,” Wegmans store manager Nick Tassi said.
The ticket holder—whose identity remains unknown—can choose between the estimated $847 million annuity jackpot and a one-time cash payment of $363.1 million. The winning numbers were 15, 34, 41, 53 and 56, along with the red Powerball 21.
It marks the 12th time New Jersey has produced a Powerball jackpot winner and the first since an anonymous player claimed a $222.6 million prize on June 10, 2024.
Matching all six numbers made the ticket the ninth-largest jackpot winner in Powerball history, according to lottery officials.
Montvale is among New Jersey’s wealthiest communities, with a median household income more than twice the national median.
Carey encouraged players to check their tickets from Wednesday’s drawing, reminding them that winners have one year to claim their prizes.
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“I’m going to tell everyone, check your tickets, because prizes for Powerball range from four dollars and up, all the way up to $847 million,” Carey said.
“The winner and all New Jersey lottery players have one full year to claim a prize, and so that’s from yesterday, so until November 4th, 2027, to claim a prize. But I would claim it immediately,” he said.
New Jersey lottery winners may remain anonymous, but anyone who wins $600 or more must visit lottery headquarters and provide identification.
“If you’re the winner, and you look at that ticket, your numbers came up, here’s what you should do. You should sign the back of the ticket. You should take a picture of it … you should put that ticket somewhere safe, and then I would tell your most trusted friend,” Carey said.
“I would call a lawyer. I would call a tax accountant; I would call a financial advisor,” he added. “This is an extraordinary amount of money, and you’re going to need help from professionals who deal with things like this all the time.”
The New Jersey Lottery contributes more than $1 billion each year to the state’s pension system, New Jersey State Treasurer Aaron Binder said as he congratulated the winner on the “life-changing event.”
“While jackpots like this generate excitement and capture the spotlight, the New Jersey Lottery makes an even broader impact every day, providing critical funding that benefits communities and residents throughout the state,” Binder said.
Wegmans shopper Elbiz Vaghdikian, 77, told The Post she got “goosebumps” after learning that the store would donate its commission to help feed people in need.
“I hope it goes to someone who makes good use of the money and spreads the wealth,” she said of the winner. “That’s my wish. Let them enjoy their life. God bless them.”
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