$273M Mega Millions jackpot winner from NJ says he initially forgot the lottery ticket at the store

Mar 6, 2019, 5:54 pm (118 comments)

Mega Millions

A New Jersey man who claimed a $273 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot this week left the winning ticket at the store.

While "messing" with his phone, Mike Weirsky misplaced $273 million last Thursday.

When he realized on Friday that he left behind the two Mega Millions tickets he bought at the Quick Chek on New Brunswick Avenue in Pohatcong Township, he returned to the store.

"A Good Samaritan" had found them and the store was holding them in a drawer awaiting Weirsky's return, he said on a frigid Wednesday morning wearing a Harley Davidson T-shirt and blue jeans on his front porch in the blue-collar community of Alpha.

It was still before the drawing so the tickets were worth what he paid for them -- $2 each.

The 54-year-old 1984 Phillipsburg High School graduate picked them up and didn't think about them again for a few days, he said.

Friday's drawing came and went. A ticket with the jackpot winning numbers 29-33-39-60-66 with a Mega Ball of 21 and a multiplier of two was worth $273 million, according to the New Jersey Lottery. The cash-out would be $162,500,000, the lottery added.

It wasn't until Sunday night in the heart the snowstorm that Weirsky was talking to a friend, who played and lost the Mega Millions. So Weirsky took out his two tickets. The first was a loser, he said. He tossed it in the trash can. He scanned the second on his phone and it came back as the jackpot winner.

He told his mom, Shirley, who figured he was pulling her leg. She definitively didn't believe him, he said.

He paced the house for a few hours before taking the ticket to a local Bagelsmith and had it run through the lottery machine there, he said.

Confirmation.

He was a millionaire. Times many.

A person who answered the phone Wednesday morning at the business said that story was true.

Weirsky headed home and told his mom again. This time she believed him, he said.

When asked Wednesday morning if he won the lottery, Weirsky said, "Maybe," then he laughed. He was holding the paperwork in his hands, he said.

A limo was soon to pick up Weirsky, his mom, his Aunt Mary Fegley, friend Barry Olah and two of Weirsky's cousins to take them to Trenton so he could make it official. They were stopping for more friends along the way. They were not expecting a formal ceremony, just a meeting with a couple of lottery officials, Weirsky said.

When asked to see the ticket, Weirsky said he wasn't showing it to anyone until he got to Trenton.

A New Jersey Lottery spokesman declined on Wednesday morning to confirm Weirsky was the winner.

Weirsky said he's already spoken to his attorney and his financial advisor. On Wednesday morning, he bought a new Ford Raptor pickup. His 2012 pickup is in good shape, he said, but he'd driven it cross-country a few times so it was time for something new.

He's looking at a new house on Saturday, he added.

He's still not sure about the tax implications of his win, but, no matter what, he'll have more money than he'll be able to spend, he said. He probably will never touch the principal, he added.

Many in his hometown know he's the winner but no one has been bugging him, he said. He shared beers the other night at Sharkys with a friend who casually mentioned the windfall but didn't push for information. Alpha's just that kind of town, he said.

Weirsky is unemployed but has been picking up money doing handyman work for a friend and will keep doing that until the friend can find a replacement, he said.

He'd been "following his wife" around the country for the past 15 years, but they got divorced in October so he's been starting over to a degree, he said. They had no children.

He's ready for those with their hands out. Those who treated him well before will have his ear. Those who didn't can forget about it, he said.

He can joke now about his life up to this point.

"I was a bum in high school, I was a bum after," he said with a laugh. "Maybe I'll be a beach bum now."

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

NJ

Comments

gy65

"He'd been "following his wife" around the country for the past 15 years, but they got divorced in October so he's been starting over to a degree, he said. They had no children."

oate's avataroate

That's a funny story, good for him. The only weird part is this:

A New Jersey Lottery spokesman declined on Wednesday morning to confirm Weirsky was the winner.

He's already blabbed to everyone and their grandma, what's the harm in confirming it? lol.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

ZOO JERSEY!

Thud

Horsegeek40

Congratulations to the winner!! Spend it wisely. 

Good luck for those on LP who are playing powerball tonight. Someone on this board win this thing!!

LottoLucy's avatarLottoLucy

LOL, I bet the former Mrs. Weirsky is kicking herself.

 I am happy or him but I worry he will end up on one of those lists of lottery winners who either lose it all or end up buried under someone’s patio.  I know it is unfair to judge just from one article but he seems like the type who will be too generous for his own good.

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

Congrats, ya bum!

Easy come, easier go!

Drinks for everyone!  Cheers

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by LottoLucy on Mar 6, 2019

LOL, I bet the former Mrs. Weirsky is kicking herself.

 I am happy or him but I worry he will end up on one of those lists of lottery winners who either lose it all or end up buried under someone’s patio.  I know it is unfair to judge just from one article but he seems like the type who will be too generous for his own good.

I thought the same thing. I bet his ex wife could have helped prevent that from happening.

The fact that he got his tickets back shows me he was destined to win. It was a miracle that someone did not pick up the tickets and keep them.

Stack47

One would think claiming anonymously would end the "winners stories", but the South Carolina Lottery spokesman told enough information about the winner, that lots of people probably know their identity. The weird part is some winners put all their info out there while others would prefer total anonymity. 

Neat story!

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Mar 6, 2019

One would think claiming anonymously would end the "winners stories", but the South Carolina Lottery spokesman told enough information about the winner, that lots of people probably know their identity. The weird part is some winners put all their info out there while others would prefer total anonymity. 

Neat story!

No age, gender, job info , etc. was provided by the SC lottery.

grwurston's avatargrwurston

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Mar 6, 2019

I thought the same thing. I bet his ex wife could have helped prevent that from happening.

The fact that he got his tickets back shows me he was destined to win. It was a miracle that someone did not pick up the tickets and keep them.

He should try to find that good samaritan and give him a little something. If it wasn't for his honesty, he wouldn't be a winner today. 

BuyLow's avatarBuyLow

This smells a bit like Jack Whittaker initially.  Time will Tell.  Jester

Cassie8620's avatarCassie8620

Quote: Originally posted by BuyLow on Mar 6, 2019

This smells a bit like Jack Whittaker initially.  Time will Tell.  Jester

sc should at least give:

 

1.)Initials, age bracket.

2.)County .

As much as people spend on daily lottery games, i think it's only right. I think it'll give those still tryin' to win much hope."

+

 

In New Jersey, this dude should be shoutin' to the rooftop, "I am goin' to find somehow, the person/good/great person who was so honest and give him thousands or

pay her or his rent.or mortgage for a long year, let' em save up, the money for a whole year!(that they would of utilized for rent or mortgage etc.) i think that would be so honorable, and nice. But, congrats..."Smiley

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by Cassie8620 on Mar 6, 2019

sc should at least give:

 

1.)Initials, age bracket.

2.)County .

As much as people spend on daily lottery games, i think it's only right. I think it'll give those still tryin' to win much hope."

+

 

In New Jersey, this dude should be shoutin' to the rooftop, "I am goin' to find somehow, the person/good/great person who was so honest and give him thousands or

pay her or his rent.or mortgage for a long year, let' em save up, the money for a whole year!(that they would of utilized for rent or mortgage etc.) i think that would be so honorable, and nice. But, congrats..."Smiley

 Cassie8620, I think that before giving a large donation to a stranger you should get the advice of a financial adviser. Things might go wrong. Protect yourself. Especially with gift taxes.

 Do you know who the Good Samaritan is? It is our fearless leader Todd Northrop from New Jersey.

Green laugh

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

I like this group photo a lot. Gosh, what surreal thoughts these folks must be thinking!

Group Hug

Subscribe to this news story