Includes video report
By Todd Northrop
Friday morning the New Jersey Lottery revealed the sole winner of the mammoth $533 million Mega Millions jackpot won on March 30.
At an 11:00 am press conference (see video below), Richard Wahl, 47, stepped up to the microphone to tell the story of his life-changing lottery ticket purchase and to answer a few questions from the assembled press.
The prize is the largest lottery win in New Jersey history, and the fourth-highest Mega Millions jackpot ever.
The lucky winner stated that he will be taking the lump-sum cash option, which is worth $324 million all at once, instead of accepting the 30-payment annuity over 29 years that would deliver the full $533 million.
After initial tax withholdings, Wuhl will take home $220.7 million, according to the New Jersey Lottery.
"We're a humble family and we're going to keep our roots," Wahl told reporters Friday.
The winner said he was purposely appearing at the news conference without his wife and children so that he could protect their privacy. Several times he declined to answer questions regarding his family.
He did however say that his wife was from Mexico and he will be helping unspecified people from her home country.
Wahl, a production manager at a northern New Jersey food services facility, said he doesn't usually play Mega Millions but decided to buy a ticket after a co-worker convinced him they could retire early if he won.
And his lucky numbers? He just selected easy pick (in New Jersey called a "Quick Pick") and the numbers were completely random. "That's why we believe it's God's plan," he said.
"It's not only life-changing money for me, but It want it to be life-changing money for others: family, friends and people in need," said Wahl.
New Jersey Lottery officials quickly called a news conference for their superstar at Lottery Headquarters Friday a day after he came forward. Wahl waited two weeks before claiming his windfall.
Wahl was joined Friday by New Jersey Lottery Acting Executive Director John M. White, and Acting State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio. He was also accompanied by his financial advisers, who remained off-camera.
Lottery officials presented a $30,000 bonus check to the Lukoil mini-mart in Riverdale on April 2 where the winning ticket was sold.
The owner of the store, Ameer Krass, said he had been able to identify Wahl by reviewing surveillance footage. But he said he didn't try to contact the lucky ticket holder. He also urged anyone who might know him to give the winner "the space they deserve."
However Wahl threw doubt on that story, as he said he entered the store during the media crush and even spoke with the clerk who sold him the winning ticket — and it was questionable whether or not the clerk recognized him.
Wahl, who moved to New Jersey from Michigan, said his dream is to rebuild a 1963 Corvette and also hopes to do charity work with his money.
An analysis by local media found that the biggest Mega Millions winners usually take about 12 days to come forward. Wall took an extra two days. Lottery officials say it's not unusual for winners to wait even longer.
Daniel Mahler, a certified public accountant with Gisler & Mahler in Bloomingdale, said the winner is going to have to get used to saying, "no."
"This guy has to watch himself," he said of New Jersey's big winner. "Everybody's going to come after him. Everybody looks for a handout."
Unlike some other states winners don't have the option to remain anonymous in New Jersey, lottery officials said. They are also required to participate in a mandatory news conference.
New Jersey's only other appearance on the top-10 Mega Millions winnings list was in 2007 when a winner from the state shared a $390 million jackpot with Georgia, according to the Mega Millions website. That is now the eighth-highest win in the game's history.
New Jersey was the seventh state to join the consortium almost three years after the game began in the summer of 1996 as the Big Game. Today, 44 states participate along with Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
VIDEO: Watch the press conference
He had a Ticket, and He Won!
Good Luck with Your new found Wealth!
Can we make it three feel good stories in one day?
Was going to watch the video, but it is LONG.
Congratulations Mr. Wahl.
Richard,congrats to you and your family. Staying humble is an admirable asset to have in ones repertoire, especially after this life changing event. Best of luck to you on the rebuild of that 63 Vette.
This is brilliant. I didn't really read the whole story, however, this guy is awesome. He doesn't want to announce his family. Well then good for him. I hope the answers to some just answered some questions.
AWESOME!!!!
Congratulations Mr Wahl. It seems to me, that Ameer is attempting to extend his 15 secs of fame. Just shut the ...P!
Smart guy and loved the fact that he went back into the store to test the phony story of the store owner. And better yet, publicly called him out. Lol
Maybe the LP body of expertise is rubbing off on new winners.
NJ + Corvette. If this were an anonymous claimant I would have sworn the chief won this JP!
Must be nice!!
Mr. Richard Wahl, a devoted family man and a believer in God. This is close to being beginner's luck. He felt like he would win.
The majority of winners choose quick picks. As he did.
It appears that he will listen to his financial advisers. Smart move.
He is now retired at the age of 46! WOW.
He is protecting his family.
Wow, what a feel good story. Just shows that you never know if or when you might win.
Congrats to Richard Wahl and Family!
real smart move to come forward on a friday. this will disappear from the news cycle by monday. a smarter move which should be utilized by anyone who fears publicity would be to do it on friday afternoon before a holiday weekend thus guaranteeing that most will have forgotten about by tuesday.,
And another Quick Pick wins big...
LOL, Artist77, both you and this huge Mega Millions jackpot winner are confusing the one who watched the store video (the owner) with the poor emotionally drained person later working at the counter of the store during the long press visit for bonus ceremony and hang-around session (merely the clerk).
Anyhow, congratulations on your huge win Richard Wahl!
What a nice guy! Congratulations to him and best wishes to his corvette project! I think I would just buy one and just drive off inn the sunset
God's plan? It's down to probability & possibility, nothing to do with superstition. I'd have asked him why his god thought all the other players were unworthy.
Here we go...
How about be happy for the guy and stop questioning his beliefs.
When you win you can thank whomever you wish...
Talk about the news cycle on Friday. Especially this Friday, 4/13/2018. The day of the military strike against Syria by the U.S., Britain, and France.
There is no way that Richard Wahl will be headline news this weekend.
Again, congratulations to Richard for being lucky and intending to continue to play Lotto. He can now afford to play any game he wants and using any tactic.
Rexer90,l can understand your thinking,we all for the most part assume every winner is Christian. However Mr Wahl could be an Animist for all we know. Just wait till we get a Hindu jackpot winner, and then hearing him/ her thanking Lord Khrisna or Ganesh, who they believe is the * remover of obstacles.
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Of course it will. People worry about the wrong things in our world today. Social media with the way it is. The news the way it is and you're absolutely right.
Then again I don't try to watch the news. One of the news stations here in Philadelphia, Fox29, is the worst of them. So much negative and so many facebook people it's disgusting.
Of course it will disappear.
The news media and social media is just ridiculous to look at. I wonder how many people deactivated their facebooks and others. Total waste of time of social media.
Did he really? Although that store owner wasn't allowed to say who it was. So, I am not sure where and what you read.
Looks like someone did not read the full story and admitted this fact earlier. Lol
Perfect answer.
Money changes people. From the winner to his/her family, friends, neighbors, strangers, charities, and businesses.
Like Mark Gardiner from Brighton, England reports, "The Green-Eyed Monster shows itself after a major win".
I wonder how Mavis Wonsicyk is doing. No news is good news.
I don't know of anyone who assumes a winner is Christian.
Since Christians are the majority here in the U.S. I can do the numbers and conclude that a winner is most likely a Christian. I am pleasantly surprised when I am wrong.
For example, I watch Amazon's "LUCKY". A one and a half hour video consisting of different winners. On February 16, 2006, A Power Ball ticket was purchased in Lincoln, Nebraska. The winners were a group of seven men and a woman who worked at a meat processing plant there. Quang V. Dao a refugee from Vietnam is profiled with his family. They are not Christian. Each winner received $15,000,000.00 after taxes.