Includes video report
A New Jersey woman was rendered speechless when she was told she had won $2 million in Wednesday's Powerball jackpot — and her stunned reaction was captured on video.
Jessica Macarone learned of her lottery win in front of reporters at the News Day newsstand in Newark, New Jersey, where she purchased the Powerball ticket. Macarone returned to the newsstand on Thursday to check her numbers.
Winning ticket for $435 million Powerball jackpot sold in Indiana
"Are you kidding me? You're kidding me," Macarone, of South Bound Brook, New Jersey, said in front of cameras, before high-fiving and hugging a nearby companion. "This is real?"
Macarone, an attorney who works near the newsstand, discovered she matched five numbers but not the Powerball in Wednesday's drawing for the $435.3 million jackpot. Macarone's decision to purchase the $1 Power Play option doubled her winnings from $1 million to $2 million.
New Jersey Lottery officials confirmed in a statement Thursday a winning ticket was purchased at the News Day newsstand. The $2 million winning ticket has not yet been brought into the lottery's headquarters, a New Jersey Lottery spokeswoman told ABC News today.
The winning ticket for Wednesday's Powerball drawing, worth an estimated $435.3 million, was sold in Indiana, the Hoosier Lottery confirmed Thursday morning. Powerball is played in 44 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
"When the jackpot gets big, I buy a ticket with the Power Play," Macarone said, according to ABC's New York station WABC. "I think once before I've won a few hundred dollars."
She noted of the significance of her win. "This was a really rough year. I lost my dad and my uncle and my mom is having a hard time," she said.
Macarone said she had no immediate plans for the money, explaining, "I can't even speak right now."
"You don't think you're going to win anything," she said.
VIDEO: Watch the report
I wonder how much her take home will be after taxes. NJ state taxes are 8%. I assume she will be in the top bracket for federal taxes, too.
When its all said and done, she'll have just enough for a starbucks coffee.
Hopefully, it is not THAT bad, but she better get financial advice and think long and hard before she starts spending her money.
If she had matched the PB as well, she wouldn't need to contact a lawyer, she already is one. Good spot to be in. Congrats!
She did not need positive thinking, magical spells, etc. to win.
She is a lawyer but is she the right type of lawyer? As the Robinsons of Munford,Tennesee taught us.
Is that the law of non-attraction then?
An attorney who represents himself/ herself, has a fool for a client.
I must have missed it. Why were cameras there?
Whatever happened to checking your numbers/tickets online. Makes you wonder if the "surprise" reaction is staged. Unnecessary fake fanfare?.
I guess that her claiming under an LLC is pointless now that everyone knows who she is and what she looks like.
So much for contacting legal council prior to claiming. DUH!
Phony surprised look too
Congrats to her. When the taxes are taken she will still have more than she started with.
Ya gotta be in it to win it!
WHY? It's her MONEY she can spend It anyway SHE WANT'S TOO! Can't she???
Not all states allow you to claim via a LLC.
$1.5 million take home pay.
https://www.njlottery.com/en-us/didiwin/claimprize.html#tab-tab1
i would like that ha ha
More than I thought. However, they only withhold 25% for federal taxes though the winner may owe more come April 15 next year.
$1.5 million is $2 mil minus the 25% withholding for federal taxes. Unfortunately, there is also a 8% state tax on the winnings in NJ.
Death and taxes....
Congrats!!!
Whatever the amount, it's a nice win.
Happy spending
.
so %33 off the top and likely a tax bill later on. so 1.34 mill. i wouldn't be quitting a job.
Jersey tax on lottery winnings is 10.8% the highest state tax in the country,
add that to the fed tax and she'll be lucky to clear 1MIL.
I checked Lottery Post for the amt of tax in NJ. However, it wouldnt surprise me to learn that it has increased to 10.8%.
California has the highest state taxes in the country at 13.3%.
Tell me about it. But Calif has no state taxes on lottery wins.
Its been 10.8% since the tax started, I think what you see on LP is the w/holding amount.
If I won $2 Million I would be speechless too congratulations Jessica.