A New York City parking garage attendant hit the lottery jackpot, promptly quit his job, and now plans to hire his very own chauffeur.
Gregory Velez said he'll be enjoying life on Easy Street after accepting a lump sum $4.63 million after taxes Thursday from the New York Lottery, after nailing all six numbers in a Cash4Life drawing.
"I'm going to be like Arthur and get a chauffeur," joked Velez, 58, referencing the 1981 romance flick.
The three-decade garage worker has boredom to thank for his new found riches.
He was working his usual shift at a Battery Park City garage on Feb. 25 when he decided to head to South End News and pick up a Cash4Life ticket, because a clerk told him there was a $7 million drawing that night.
"I was kind of bored," he said. "I said to myself, 'Let me take a walk across the street and see what they got to play for tonight."
The 58-year-old Union, NJ resident isn't a regular lottery player, so he let the computer select his numbers on a $2 Quick Pick ticket — and didn't even bother to watch the drawing that night.
It was only the next day, chatting with his co-workers, they realized he might have won.
He ran back over to the South End Avenue newsstand, where the store clerk hurdled over the counter and gave him a big hug.
"I know you won!" the excited employee told Velez, who insisted they double check the numbers.
When they scanned the ticket, it came back that he had in fact matched all six numbers — 2, 16, 19, 33, 39, and the Cash Ball 3.
"I didn't know how to react. I thought it was $1,000 a week," but the clerk told him, "No, it's $1,000 a day for the rest of your life."
"I'm still in shock," he added.
After learning the big news, he walked back to work and quit. He then jumped on the E train to catch a bus back to his New Jersey house.
"I just got home and sat there and relaxed," Velez said, adding that he didn't even call his family until later that night.
He said he plans to pay off some bills, downsizing to a two-bedroom apartment in New Jersey and taking his two daughters and his 6-year-old granddaughter to Disney World.
"I'm very low key. I'm not changing," Velez said.
And despite working in garages for his entire life, he has no plans to buy a car of his own.
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
Really nice story.
You just never know when it might be your time to win.
Congrats to Mr. Velez, I quit ASAP also.
Good for Him. It looks as though the chauffeur won't be driving Ms. Daisy.
WTG!! Good story!!
Good for him but look what the article says, then look at the ticket...one number different.
"When they scanned the ticket, it came back that he had in fact matched all six numbers — 2, 16, 19, 33, 30, and the Cash Ball 3".
They must have made a mistake in the article about it....should be 39 for the 5th one.
Does he have to pay NJ taxes as well? Maybe there's a reciprocity agreement between NJ/NY though I doubt it applies to lottery winnings. CONGRATULATIONS BTW!
Ironically in KY pick 3 last night the first three of my SSAN came in....018 (Mass. boy) and didn't play.
With good medical care, Gregory Velez should live up to a ripe old age. Congratulations on a $1,000.00/day win! Isn't this what we are all dreaming of.
OK , CAN SOMEONE HELP ME OUT HERE , PLEASE ..IT'S A 1000 DOLLARS A DAY BUT HE WALKED AWAY WITH $4.63 MILLION AFTER TAXS.. HOW DID THEY COME TO THAT NUMBER IF IT'S A GRAND A DAY ??
Good catch! I have fixed the article.
Winner can opt for lump sum payout as opposed to $1,000/day (paid in quarterly installments). If chose the lump sum, they base it on a twenty year term of payments. Present day annuity of $1,000/day for 20 years less taxes equals his payout.
Congratulations to Gregory!
I hope Gregory seeks independent, professional financial and legal advice.
It may be a lot of money, but if not managed properly, it won't provide long-term financial security.
Good eye Vergie!
And I think you would need to be like 30 or under to take the 1k for day for life option. Or if you think you could handle the 1k for day option better (some people are better knowing they will always be having money come in vs being giving a lumpsum and never getting anymore)
Gregory said " l just got home, sat there and relaxed." You said it, enjoy your retirement Greg...
I would love to experience the joy of winning lotto , quitting my job and never having to worry about money again
That's why we play the games with crazy odds.
Congratulations......
I hear you!! Lottery headquarters not too far from my Children's Hospital where I work. I'd love to walk off the job, but would probably finish out the shift with all those sick kids on ventilators/ECMO in my PICU...though the temptation is very strong.
Tough job, it must be heartbreaking sometimes. Glad to hear you would stay.
Bluedog101, you do important work that may be hard, but really worthwhile.
I'm very thankful my kids have all been healthy.
Thank you rcbbuckeye. You see so much sadness it is overwhelming. I usually get to work on the heart kids and almost six years ago I had heart surgery, so knew exactly what was in store for me which made it mentally challenging. A few kids have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy like myself, so can really relate to that disease and have long talks with the parents. (I'm a respiratory therapist, BTW). So maybe that's why I haven't hit the big one (yet)....lol
Great time for Gregory to retire, at 58 years-old. I hope he doesn't take his winnings in one lump-sum or he might end up broke in just a few short years by his friends and long-lost relatives, coming out of the woodwork,with investment scams, loans that Gregory will never get back. Congratulations Gregory!
He took a lump sum more than likely
I think with those games you can do 20 yr min payout or lump sum
That's what I'm banking on, because I don't care whoever else wins.
When is my turn coming up?
Yes indeed.
You seem to have some grasp on the situation.
And he's just going to downsize to a 2 bedroom apartment, in New Jersey?
Does this guy realize there are other places to live besides noisy, dirty cities?
Congratulations and God Bless. It is always good to see a hard working person win and achieve their life's dreams. Good Luck.
Lifesaver77
Congrats to him!
Thanks!
Thanks dr65!
Wouldn't we all like that!
Here's a link to a winner of whom I knew his sister who lives in the same town as I do....this happened several years ago.
He played the same numbers for a long time and they finally all hit!
It's this kind who win or the ones who just casually buy a ticket one day on a whim!
http://www.megamillions.com/winners-gallery/first-north-carolina-mega-millions-jackpot-winner-claims-prize
His sister had told me he had won and so every day I stopped by the claims office on the way home to see if they had a mega millions winner & they told me one day they had not but a man came in and asked a lot of questions about winning big & they suspected he was a winner and it turned out he was but of course he had to go to Raleigh to get the money...he took a lump sum of 7.8 million.
He got all of his ducks in a row before he claimed it which was the way to do it!
He bought a Winnebago and left town with his wife after getting the money...I asked his sister if he gave her any of the money and she said no & he used one of her birthday numbers too but then she said she didn't need it anyway...he could have ended up later giving her some...I never asked about it again.
Congrats Mr. Velez. Its something how people who don,t play that often r people who play when its a large jackpot tends to win.OK lottery Gods my turn.
Sad, isn't it?
NOT the fact that he chose to collect the lump sum, but that you think of "$4.63 million" and all of a sudden, it doesn't seem like that great a deal. May seem to many (to me, definitely) that it's not very "lotto-like" at all.
I think that's very depressing.
Still, a heck of a lot more than I'll ever have, unless I hit something like this.
Yes, honestly it is, when I'm not in "greed-mode".
Congrats Gregory.
Taking lump sum means you get one check and no more. Spend wisely and save for your older age. You don't want to spend it all and have nothing left and no income (since you quit your job)
Have fun at Disney World!
The article stated he did take one lump sum:
"Gregory Velez said he'll be enjoying life on Easy Street after accepting a lump sum $4.63 million after taxes Thursday from the New York Lottery, after nailing all six numbers in a Cash4Life drawing."
He bought a Winnebago and left town with his wife after getting the money.
I love it-
great way to get away from the craziness that follows a big win.
After winning all I hear in my head is that song by the Steve Miller Band "Take the money and run".