They've been playing the lottery together for 25 years — and it finally paid off.
Two old friends who met working in a Manhattan print shop have become instant millionaires, scooping up a $14 million jackpot in the Mega Millions game.
And technically, they didn't spend a penny on their winning numbers.
"We won $14 million on a free play ticket," said Willie McPherson, 74, who lives on Manhattan's West Side. "(It feels) beautiful."
Christopher Manzi, 44, of Morganville, N.J., who works in sales, and McPherson became pals working at a midtown printing company two-and-a-half decades ago.
They have been spending a $20 each a week on Powerball and Mega Millions tickets ever since.
McPherson made his regular $40 Powerball and Mega Millions purchases at Kyu's Coffee Shop on West 32nd Street on Sept. 18.
Even after McPherson retired eight years ago, he would still stop by weekly to grab a coffee with his ex-colleague and head out to buy their tickets, yet the most they ever won was $12.
"We both like playing the lottery. We both like women, and we both like a lot of money," Manzi quipped about the reason for their strong bond.
"It's just a great feeling. We are two lucky guys."
McPherson was a little short of cash when he went to buy their $40 worth of tickets on Sept. 18 so Manzi gave him a loan.
He was given two extra free Mega Millions Quick Pick tickets that day as part of a special promotion.
The retiree came in the next day with the good news: "We hit the lottery. We are going to Miami," he told Manzi.
They opted for the lump sum, which is just over $10 million.
After taxes, Manzi gets $3.5 million and McPherson, who will pay the government more as a Manhattan resident, gets $3.3 million.
Besides a trip to Florida, the two plan to buy real estate.
"I'll buy him a house, and then he can buy one for me," Manzi said. "Willie's retired. I'm possibly going to retire too."
Kyu's owner, Kyu Hwa, 55, who got $10,000 for selling the winning ticket, said McPherson has been buying tickets from her every week for seven years.
What a lucky day for both of them. Winning $14 million and yet on a free play ticket...Wow. They are both so lucky. Congratulations to both of you and may you enjoy more...
And they say, the definition of INSANITY is to do the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.....
I agree! 14m is MAD CASH
now that New York just won. You know what that means....
Congrats!
I hope it means that I will win next!
Persistence pays off.
Luck of the draw.
Way to go public, so everyone can see you, good luck with all the solicitors
They played for 20 years and the winning ticket "cost them nothing"
hence the reason why this was invented
Nice weapon....... USA USA USA
WTH ?
Mcpherson has to pay $200,000 more in tax cause he lives in manhatten ?
Do they have a lottery tax at the municipal level ?
The other guy lives in jersey which has the highest state lottery tax @ 10.8%
I would have thought Mcpherson would have done better.
Perhaps taxing your "after tax" revenue has become a sort of sport??
Most cities do now days, I noticed when I filled out my city taxes, they had added lottery winnings to the list or incomes that are taxed.
Great for them but ummmmm. Manzi would get a little less since he was short on his part of the money and needed a loan.Isn't it funny that he didn't even have enough money to purchase their weekly tickets and Mcpherson is getting less because of where he resides. Great story good win.Im just saying it wouldn't have been a half and half and he(Manzi) didnt even have the money to purchase the tickets in the first place.but I guess it's fair since the winning ticket was a freebie.hmm.Im guessing Manzi got quite a few loans from his friend Mcpherson.Poor Mcpherson was probably glad to have a friend so loaning Manzi money to gamble wasn't an issue for him..did I just say the same twice.lol thats just as crazy as Manzi getting half the money for tickets he didn't purchase technically.
This is after 25 YEARS.
I need you to write my next prenup - lol
maybe Manzi has put up the loan in the past.
Had no idea,
do give any ideas to these Jersey towns
I doubt if most players add it to their income unless they win enough to pay state and federal taxes on it. My town request you include a copy of your Federal tax forms with you city forms for auditing when you pay your taxes.
"We both like playing the lottery. We both like women, and we both like a lot of money," Manzi quipped about the reason for their strong bond.
That is the sweetest sentence that single women can hope to hear from a man or men who just hit the jackpot. I hope these two men can contain themselves going at what they like. I'm happy for them.
Geee...they were friends for 25 years and no one tried to cheat the other but they clearly had an informal understanding to share.. Glad to see there are some decent people in the world. I would hate to be Romoneyias friend.
congrats to both hope they spend it wisely
The older people get the less important the money is most of the time.
(except for a true miser who gets more and more greedy with time)
Must be to keep their girlfriends/lady friends at bay.
Wonder how many shots it would take to get this job done?
A happy story, what big weekly gamblers! Congratulations, Willy and Christopher, for finally entering the "black" for lottery winnings! This is an exciting jackpot win to share and celebrate together.
Welcome, DAMEDYLAN, to fresh memberships and ideas here!
NYC has a 4% income tax that applies to most types of income. Added to the NY state tax his marginal rate will be almost 13%, plus the federal rate of 35%.
Since the ticket was bought in NYC the guy who lives in NJ will owe NY state income taxes. NJ will be able to collect the difference betwen the NY rate and the NJ rate. The guy is lucky that NYC doesn't collect income tax on NYC earnings from non-residents.
ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IN NEW JERSEY THIS PAAST WEEK THAT THE RED BALL IN THE PICK 3 AND PICK FOUR DID NOT SHOW, DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT. SMELLS FISHY TO ME
Congrats Christopher and Willie, Now this is what I call Friendship!!
they both smiling no one have to go to court.
I know the world have a few good people left out there. God Bless Them Both.