NJ Mega Millions lottery winners claim $30M prize

Jul 24, 2013, 12:10 pm (32 comments)

Mega Millions

TRENTON, N.J. — The anxiously awaited New Jersey Lottery winners from the May 31 Mega Millions drawing have come forward to validate their ticket and claim their prize at Lottery Headquarters.

Darryl and Judith Smith from Mays Landing are the official winners of the $30 million jackpot prize.

The camera shy couple sat across from their attorneys and completed the claims process with Lottery officials. Upon completion, Judith Smith smiled and said, "We are thankful for the blessing and the opportunities that it opens up for us. We would greatly appreciate that our privacy be respected."

Carole Hedinger, Lottery Executive Director said, "We are thrilled to meet the latest New Jersey Lottery jackpot winners! The sale of this winning ticket marks the fourth time in 2013 that New Jersey has produced a major jackpot winner." The winning streak was kicked off on January 25th with the $89 million Mega Millions win by Angel Guallpa-Mayancela from Orange, followed by the March 23rd, $338.3 million Powerball win by Pedro Quezada from Passaic, then the $190 million May 17th Mega Millions win by Giuseppe "Joe" Garofalo of Tinton Falls and now the May 31st Mega Millions jackpot win by Mr. and Mrs. Smith. "It's good to be New Jersey," stated Hedinger.

Mr. Smith purchased the Mega Millions winning ticket in Atlantic County at Vineland Truck Stop, 760 Harding Way in Buena. It was the only ticket in the nation sold that matched all five white balls and Gold Megaball to claim the $30 million Mega Millions jackpot for the May 31 drawing. The winning numbers were 2, 20, 26, 44, and 46, with Mega Ball number 26.  The Megaplier Multiplier was 3.

In addition to the jackpot win, three lucky players from New Jersey purchased $10,000 winning tickets. Two of the tickets were purchased in Middlesex County one at: Acme Check Cashing Service, 1259 US 1 South, Edison and the other at: Windsor Pharmacy, 722 Route 18, East Brunswick. There was a Monmouth County ticket sold at Welsh Farms Country Deli, 4057 Asbury Ave., Tinton Falls.

In addition to the Garden State's jackpot winner and third prize winners, 31,153 other New Jersey players took home $120,440 in prizes ranging from $2 to $150, according to Hedinger.

Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 43 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

For a complete set of game descriptions, results, history, and all questions regarding Mega Millions, lottery players are encouraged to visit USA Mega (www.usamega.com), a Web site that caters to the Unites States's two multi-state lottery games, Powerball and Mega Millions.

The Mega Millions winning numbers are published at USA Mega Tuesday and Friday nights, minutes after the 11:00 pm Eastern Time drawing takes place.

Press Release, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Congratulation Mr. & Mrs. SmithThumbs Up four jackpot winners this year I'm moving to NJ Big Grin

RJOh's avatarRJOh


Darryl and Judith Smith from Mays Landing will learn the truth of what I've been saying for years, "lottery winners don't go unnoticed".  Carole Hedinger, the New Jersey Lottery Executive Director could recited all the past N.J. lottery winners of 2013 quicker than her "ABC's".

Kee12's avatarKee12

Congratulations! Amazing feeling it must be for both of them.

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Is my luck getting closer ? I've had other big winners not to far from me,

but these winners are less then 10 miles from me. congrats to them.

 

I been waiting to hear about 1 year anonymity, guess It's still on the big guy's desk. Disapprove

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jul 24, 2013


Darryl and Judith Smith from Mays Landing will learn the truth of what I've been saying for years, "lottery winners don't go unnoticed".  Carole Hedinger, the New Jersey Lottery Executive Director could recited all the past N.J. lottery winners of 2013 quicker than her "ABC's".

Yea, so much for the Idea of laying low for a little while,

I guess It takes a big while !

CLETU$

Congrats to the Smiths!

With a last name like that,they may as well be anonymous.

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by CLETU$ on Jul 24, 2013

Congrats to the Smiths!

With a last name like that,they may as well be anonymous.

I Agree!  Congrats to the winner Dance

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Congratulations to Darryl and Judith Smith! 

I'm looking forward to hearing if win was via a quick pick of all numbers, part of the numbers, or what.  I'm wondering if they had to participate in a New Jersey Lottery headquarters photo session and/or press conference too.

Cheers

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by CLETU$ on Jul 24, 2013

Congrats to the Smiths!

With a last name like that,they may as well be anonymous.

X-point.

But the amount of time they took to claim Is just a little longer then the time it takes to complete a name change.

So I wonder how the lottery handles It when they know the winner has had a recent name change.

Name changes are public Info, but you have to take the time to look at the legal listings,

who has time for that ?

HoLeeKau's avatarHoLeeKau

Quote: Originally posted by haymaker on Jul 24, 2013

X-point.

But the amount of time they took to claim Is just a little longer then the time it takes to complete a name change.

So I wonder how the lottery handles It when they know the winner has had a recent name change.

Name changes are public Info, but you have to take the time to look at the legal listings,

who has time for that ?

I've always wondered if they would insist on publishing your previous names too.  When you give them your social security number, I'm pretty sure they can easily find out other names associated with that number.

Name changes are public info, but as long as the lottery doesn't publish previous names, curious people would have to know where you changed it to find out for sure.  You could rent an apartment in another state and make a few trips there to get it done.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by CLETU$ on Jul 24, 2013

Congrats to the Smiths!

With a last name like that,they may as well be anonymous.

It probably means a little more work for folks who seek out lottery winners to request money.

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jul 24, 2013


Darryl and Judith Smith from Mays Landing will learn the truth of what I've been saying for years, "lottery winners don't go unnoticed".  Carole Hedinger, the New Jersey Lottery Executive Director could recited all the past N.J. lottery winners of 2013 quicker than her "ABC's".

"We would greatly appreciate that our privacy be respected."

That's almost like challenging the paparazzi to go through their trash. Gloria wanted privacy too and we're reading about the house she just bought and the address.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Jul 24, 2013

"We would greatly appreciate that our privacy be respected."

That's almost like challenging the paparazzi to go through their trash. Gloria wanted privacy too and we're reading about the house she just bought and the address.

They must live in a dream wold, they should know on one respect any one privacy any more.  I have strangers calling me on phone about things that only my doctors and bankers should know and what they don't know, they assume.

Arrowhead's avatarArrowhead

They'll get some calls, some 'requests', sure.

And, at the end of the day, eventually those will tail off, and they'll be just fine, like the vast majority of these big jackpot winners are, even the ones with their names made public.

And when the calls stop they'll still have their 30 mil, or whatever they cleared after taxes. 

Piaceri

Congrats to the Smith's!  Woo-hoo!!  Party

RedStang's avatarRedStang

Thanks to Gov Christie, we should'nt even know their names. Now we'll know all NJ winners for 2013.

golfer1960's avatargolfer1960

Great story, congratulations to the Smiths!

However, the story neglects to tell us if the winning ticket was a quick pick or self pick and if they chose annuity or cash. Just curious.

Maybe the new privacy law in Jersey has kicked in somewhat.

curious

sully16's avatarsully16

Congrats to the lucky winner.

LottoGuyBC's avatarLottoGuyBC

Congrats to Mr. & Mrs. Smith Cool

Cheers

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jul 24, 2013


Darryl and Judith Smith from Mays Landing will learn the truth of what I've been saying for years, "lottery winners don't go unnoticed".  Carole Hedinger, the New Jersey Lottery Executive Director could recited all the past N.J. lottery winners of 2013 quicker than her "ABC's".

 Today's edition of the press of Atlantic city has the same basic story, but leaves out mention of the other winners for 2013,

however it does mention the name of the last big winner in this area back In 2007,

so I guess the attention never goes away.

 

Come on big guy get that 1 year anonymity bill signed, simple, just sign It and be done w/It !

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

LP, Jersey lottery website and my newspaper all describe the winners as "camera shy"

and none have a picture so I guess you can decline to be photographed here In Jersey.

ressuccess's avatarressuccess

Congratulations to this jackpot winner. I didn't know the winning numbers of this draw were a California Super Lotto PLus pick and ended in a double number.

lottoguysocal's avatarlottoguysocal

big jackpot for the smiths!  congratulations to them for the win!

OldSchoolPa's avatarOldSchoolPa

UPDATE:  Make it 5 jackpot winners from NJ. The $19 million Mega Millions jackpot was won by a single tickefor purchased in NJ last night.

10 percent to NJ....

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by haymaker on Jul 24, 2013

Is my luck getting closer ? I've had other big winners not to far from me,

but these winners are less then 10 miles from me. congrats to them.

 

I been waiting to hear about 1 year anonymity, guess It's still on the big guy's desk. Disapprove

How far does last night's MegaMillions jackpot winner live from you?

stunna6036's avatarstunna6036

Another nj jackpot winner................ come on lottery games let's spread the wealth. It may be time for some investigating. Congradulations to the lucky winner thou. I may have to take some trips to NJ the state is on a roll.

stunna6036's avatarstunna6036

Does anyone find it strange that mega with lower jackpots is having more jackpot winners than powerball that has larger jackpots. I'd assume that because the jackpot is higher that would create more players but the jackpot just seems to continue to grow while mm jackpots are lower but producing more winners. Just a thought

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jul 27, 2013

How far does last night's MegaMillions jackpot winner live from you?

Well since It's not me I'll have to wait to find out,

the state's lottery site doesn't even mention it, they're slow to update things.

The only way I know there Is a winner Is when the JP resets, and that does'nt let me know where It hit.

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by stunna6036 on Jul 27, 2013

Does anyone find it strange that mega with lower jackpots is having more jackpot winners than powerball that has larger jackpots. I'd assume that because the jackpot is higher that would create more players but the jackpot just seems to continue to grow while mm jackpots are lower but producing more winners. Just a thought

That's why I play every draw, I be quite happy w/the base JP.

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by OldSchoolPa on Jul 27, 2013

UPDATE:  Make it 5 jackpot winners from NJ. The $19 million Mega Millions jackpot was won by a single tickefor purchased in NJ last night.

10 percent to NJ....

10.8% nobody can chisel like a Jersey pol.

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jul 27, 2013

How far does last night's MegaMillions jackpot winner live from you?

Over 100 miles, but i'm not surprised that the winner was sold in  Hudson county,

seems like lot's of winners are sold up there, close to NY. heavily populated.

jamella724

I think it is good for them to take some time before claiming their prizes. They are able to plan on how are they going to manage their winnings. If I will win the jackpot prize same that I will not be overly excited to claim my prize. I will make sure that my excitement will subside first so I will be able to think clearly on how I am going to spend my winnings.

End of comments
Subscribe to this news story