Winners work in the Chubb IT Department
Includes video report
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Robert Space got into work at the Chubb Insurance company at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, realized the lottery ticket he was holding matched the winning numbers, and fired off a one-line e-mail to his nine co-workers who had pitched in to buy it.
"We won the big one," it read.
The replies came back instantly: "Hahahaha" wrote one. "GREAT. Where do I pick up the cash?" joked another. Then they saw the ticket for themselves.
Space and his colleagues hit the second-largest single-ticket jackpot in New Jersey history, winning $216 million in the Mega Millions jackpot.
"I feel incredibly blessed. I can't even absorb it," Space said, surrounded by stunned colleagues and clutching the winning ticket during a news conference at their office in the central New Jersey town of Whitehouse Station.
Space, with $5 from each colleague, said he bought 50 quick-pick tickets Monday afternoon at the Singin Oil gas station in the shore town of Toms River.
Space stopped by the gas station again Wednesday morning to get a printout of the winning numbers to check the tickets.
"I jokingly asked him (the attendant) if anyone had won and if it was sold here, but he didn't know," Space said. So he stuffed the list in his pocket.
It wasn't until an hour or so later that Space had time to review the numbers, scanning each row and growing increasingly shocked as first one, then two, then three - then six numbers matched. He called his wife to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, then sent out the e-mail.
"It takes a lot of stress out of life," Space said of the winnings. The 10 will split a $216 million annuity or a one-time payout of about $140 million.
Lottery officials say no one has officially come forward to claim the prize yet. The 10 have not discussed when they will claim the prize but have a year to do so.
Taner Cetintas of Jackson, the owner of Singin Oil, will collect $10,000 for selling the ticket. Cetintas, a Turkish immigrant who worked for decades as a gas station manager before saving up enough to buy Singin Oil in January, said he was happy for his customer, and his own bonus would help pay bills.
The six men and four women who won said they've worked in Chubb's IT division from seven to 30 years and had been buying tickets together for years.
Their usual ticket buyer, Alan Mooney, always stops by colleagues' desks to collect ticket money, asking "Are ya in?" Mooney, who was among the winners, was in Florida on business. Space said Mooney was hurrying back to New Jersey, "upgrading to first class," he joked.
Space said there were some colleagues who had opted out of this ticket buy.
One regular buyer, Oscar Oviedo, had asked Space to count him in and promised $5 for his share. Space rushed over to him early Wednesday morning and demanded the money.
"I thought: 'How rude!'" Oviedo said with a laugh, recalling how he handed over $5, unsure why Space was being so insistent. "Then he said, 'OK, thanks — you're a millionaire.'"
The winning numbers were: 26, 32, 35, 43, 52 and the Mega Ball was 10.
In addition to Space, of Manchester Township; Mooney, of Budd Lake; and Oviedo, of Stewartsville, the other winners are: Gerard Solas, of Hillsborough; Anne LaFontaine, of Summit; Linda Harrington, of Bay Head; Melanie Jacob, of Alexandria Township; Joanne Roth, of Basking Ridge; Bill Bollwage, of Bridgewater; and Todd Ellis, of Maplewood.
VIDEO: Watch the report
Congrats to the winners. SPECIAL thanks to the PLAYERS across the USA who contributed to their joy. Claim it quick before the big O. raises your taxes! Buy some erl now and buy some gold. Buy a GM vehicle and subscribe to some newspapers, and eat out more often. Something how the winning ticket sold in Toms River, far away from the Chubb locaton, and during a snowstorm yet! I'd be giving up that commute.
I heard a winner in nj.. so being that's where I live and where I play, I figured I had no chance!
Hey I DID have the Bonus Ball...so there!
"Space said there were some colleagues who had opted out of this ticket buy"
Now thats the sticky part.......I hope those who opted out of this ticket buy, don't become insensed or jealous and challenge the group and the "kitty".....this is what causes "wars" among co-workers and colleagues.....when members of the "usual players' are alleging refraining fron contributing to the "office pool".......then the office pool wins......lets just wait and see......I hope they do not end up in Court over this......hope they had an "office contract" that can protect who played from those who didn't this time around.
Congrats to the winners!
So happy for them and it has got to feel sooooooooooooooooo good right now!
I do have one questions:
It took 13 rolls for MM to reach $216 Millions ( I love the "jump" from $145m to $171m....that was cool)
If it had rolled 5 more times....Do you think it would have reached the much anticipated $400 million?
(It was so close...LOL!)
I know it is going to happen....its only a matter of time....
Ironically...I think the best way to get a roll to 400M is with less tickets played per drawing..it would take a long time to GET there but the more play per drawing the more different numbers are in play and more coverage and thus more likely a winner at the higher amount. 145 to 171 meant what, 60 million sets of #s or so that drawing? 12 to 18 adds about 16 million # sets. The other way is to add more balls to "keep up with the Powerballers" but nobody likes that. How many did it take when it got to 390? 400 million $ means about 800M to 1 BILLION sets played but with some degree of overlap but it stands to reason that by 400 or before, someone won by then. Would be an interesting "Science Project" to figure this out.
Huge congratulations to all the winners!!!!!!!
One regular buyer, Oscar Oviedo, had asked Space to count him in and promised $5 for his share. Space rushed over to him early Wednesday morning and demanded the money.
"I thought: 'How rude!'" Oviedo said with a laugh, recalling how he handed over $5, unsure why Space was being so insistent. "Then he said, 'OK, thanks — you're a millionaire.'"
Love this part.
Congratulations to the LUCKY winners!
I think it's really great when there's more winners. The more the better.
i agree
If it works for them its cool.
Personaly,I'm not crazy about sharing so I don't join pools.
"Their usual ticket buyer, Alan Mooney, always stops by colleagues' desks to collect ticket money, asking "Are ya in?"
When I first read that I figured they had a 100% chance of being sued if anybody wasn't included in this one. I'll presume that Space had already bought the tickets that Oviedo owed the money for, but it's also possible that he figured they woul dbe sued otherwise. Whatever the reason, tthat he took care of Oviedo could make it harder for anyone else who wants to claim that they had wanted to be in the pool but were unfairly excluded.
Yes, it's a great story. However, it might also open up the door for other coworkers to say they also wanted to play and would have given Space the money on Wednesday.
Edit: Coincidentally, KY Floyd & I commented at the same time, quoting the same post. Anyway, please explain what you mean that it makes it harder for others to sue. Couldn't they say "I said I wanted in, but he forgot to write down my name." If I were in a pool, I'd want the rules to state that anyone participating in the pool has to pay before the drawing.
I agree. It gives more people to chance to experience a big win. Congrats to the winners!
Awesome wins by many!
Congrats to the winners...Now lets start filling the pot once again.
Justxploring........if you go back to the beginning of this Story/Thread..I was Actually the FIRST PERSON to suggest that the other co-workers who usually play and contribute to the "office pool" may challenge SPACE regarding not being included this time around....re-read my post/thread.....
"Space said there were some colleagues who had opted out of this ticket buy"
Now thats the sticky part.......I hope those who opted out of this ticket buy, don't become insensed or jealous and challenge the group and the "kitty".....this is what causes "wars" among co-workers and colleagues.....when members of the "usual players' are alleging refraining fron contributing to the "office pool".......then the office pool wins......lets just wait and see......I hope they do not end up in Court over this......hope they had an "office contract" that can protect who played from those who didn't this time around.
Justxploring........if you go back to the beginning of this Story/Thread..I was Actually the FIRST PERSON to suggest that the other co-workers who usually play and contribute to the "office pool" may challenge SPACE regarding not being included this time around....re-read my post/thread.....
"Space said there were some colleagues who had opted out of this ticket buy"
Now thats the sticky part.......I hope those who opted out of this ticket buy, don't become insensed or jealous and challenge the group and the "kitty".....this is what causes "wars" among co-workers and colleagues.....when members of the "usual players' are alleging refraining fron contributing to the "office pool".......then the office pool wins......lets just wait and see......I hope they do not end up in Court over this......hope they had an "office contract" that can protect who played from those who didn't this time around.
Wow, another lottery pool wins a large jackpot. Been a lot of these the last few years. Especially the very large jackpots. So I guess "quantity" is important. But they have played for "years," so that is a lot of losing as well. But that does not matter now. I can't believe they actually collected $5 from a guy and then said he was a millionaire. I guess he knew there was plenty to go around and did not want to deal with potential lawsuits and hard feelings.
A big congratulations to the winners of the $212 Mega Millions draw! I'm always happy when other people win. I guess it's gets me into practice for the moment I win. I just hope I don't get to old to enjoy it! Oh well, I'll be at it again Friday
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If the O guy had said nah im not in. then he would have only split it with 9 im guessing, shessh he gave the guy a chance to buy in after knowing it won. sounded like O was oblivious. nice to give the guy the option
The article actually implies that the worker did not know, and was "unsure" why he was being rushed for $5.00. He was then told he was a milionaire afterwards.
Congrats for winning the BIG one. Just don't go back to broke please.
That Oviedo guy is lucky a different kind of person wasn't over the pool; the kind who would have said "you snoozed, you lose."
Still, my favorite way is the "collect and play long in advance" method used by the California people.
i agree. more chances for a lawsuit. I sure wouldn't have done press until forced to, either.
MaddMike51, I like and totally agree with your signature. Here's hoping WE all hit a lotter jackpot this year as if we don't, we are going to be struggling under the pending taxation tsunami...a few million under the belt will at least keep many heads above water!
If the O guy had said nah im not in. Then he would have owned an extra share since he bought $50 worth of tickets and the other contributers only gave him $5.
According to the article the O guy did tell Space before the drawing to count him in. So Space did the right thing going to O after the win to give him the chance to pay up.
If the others opted out before the drawing, tough luck. REAL tough luck. LOL.
Well, to be fair, Bunky wasn't the sole winner of that jackpot, he was one of four. We never did hear much from those other winners, they should be glad Bunky hogged the spotlight.