The excitement surrounding the staggering $847 million Powerball jackpot sold right next to Monsey continued Thursday afternoon
New Jersey Lottery Officials Officially Announce $847 Million Powerball Win at Wegmans Right Next to Monsey
The excitement surrounding the staggering $847 million Powerball jackpot sold right next to Monsey continued Thursday afternoon, as New Jersey Lottery officials gathered outside the Wegmans supermarket in Montvale to officially announce the historic win and present the store with a $30,000 bonus check.
The special press conference took place at 2:00 p.m. outside Wegmans at 100 Farm View, just across the New Jersey border from Chestnut Ridge and a popular shopping destination for countless Monsey and Rockland County residents.
New Jersey Lottery officials, joined by local elected officials, celebrated the extraordinary jackpot, which was won by a single ticket purchased at the supermarket.
The ticket was the only jackpot winner in the country from Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing, November 4, matching all six winning numbers and securing the ninth-largest jackpot in Powerball history, and the second largest in New Jersey Lottery history.
The winning numbers were 15, 34, 41, 53, and 56, with the Powerball number 21.
While the $847 million jackpot has attracted nationwide attention, lottery officials also encouraged everyone who purchased tickets for Wednesday’s drawing to check their numbers, explaining that numerous smaller prizes were awarded as well.
Powerball prizes from the drawing range from $4 for certain winning combinations to the full $847 million jackpot, meaning ticket holders do not need to match all six numbers to walk away with a prize.
The identity of the lucky jackpot winner remains unknown, and officials reminded that the winner has one year from the drawing date to claim the enormous prize.
Under New Jersey law, lottery winners are permitted to remain anonymous, allowing the person holding the winning ticket to keep their identity out of the public eye.
However, officials clarified that anonymity does not mean winners can collect large prizes without identifying themselves to the Lottery. Anyone claiming a prize of $600 or more must provide identification and submit the required information to lottery officials, even if they choose to remain anonymous to the public.
During the press conference, lottery officials also offered important advice to whoever is holding the winning $847 million ticket.
They urged the winner to immediately sign the back of the ticket, take clear photographs of both the front and back, and secure the original ticket in an extremely safe location.
With hundreds of millions of dollars involved, officials emphasized the importance of having trustworthy support and experienced professionals to help the winner manage the life-changing prize.
The winner will have the option of receiving the full $847 million through 30 payments over 29 years or taking a one-time cash payment of approximately $363.1 million before taxes.
Meanwhile, the Montvale Wegmans also received a financial reward for selling the winning ticket.
New Jersey Lottery officials presented the supermarket with a ceremonial $30,000 bonus check during the press conference. New Jersey Lottery recognizes the store for selling the jackpot-winning ticket of any lottery.
The bonus comes in addition to the regular commission lottery retailers receive on ticket sales, which amounts to 5% of the price of tickets sold.
For Monsey and surrounding Rockland County residents, the extraordinary jackpot is particularly exciting because of the store’s close proximity to the community. The Montvale Wegmans is frequently visited by local shoppers, raising the possibility that the lucky winner could be someone from the area.
For now, one question remains unanswered: Who purchased the $847 million winning ticket at Wegmans, could it have been a Monsey Resident? Time will tell.
