UNION CITY − What would you choose, $42 million now or $90 million over 30 years? The Mega Millions winner with a ticket worth $90 million sold in New Jersey ended up with the former.
The winning ticket was sold on the evening of Nov. 30 at Garden State News on Bergenline Avenue in Union City.
Krish Patel, the owner of the store, and four others across New Jersey including one in West New York, said he expects selling the winning ticket to be great for himself and his business.
“I would say congratulations to the winner,” said Patel, who has lived in New Jersey for 15 years. “We both got lucky.”
The store received $30,000 for selling the winning ticket.
The winner bought the ticket in cash value, which was about $42 million before taxes. The winner could have chose to pay in annuity, where $90 million before taxes would been paid across 30 years, said James Carey, the executive director of the New Jersey Lottery.
New Jersey has had its fair share of luck when it comes to national lottery winners. Since 2018, New Jersey has sold combined eight Mega Million or Powerball jackpot winning tickets.
The Garden State is home to some huge jackpot prizes. Last year, a $1.1 billion ticket was sold in Neptune. A $200 million ticket was sold in Camden last year as well.
In Hudson County, nine lottery players won prizes ranging from $10,000 to $260,000 with four tickets being sold on Bergenline Avenue.
The life-changing reward could be overwhelming. Carey suggests winners only tell a few of your closest relatives and friends, take a picture of the ticket, secure the ticket in a safe space, speak with a lawyer, accountant, financial advisor and collect your winnings from the New Jersey lottery.
Lottery winnings can be important to the community where the winning happened.
“We are so happy lady luck decided to come to Union City,” said Maryuri Martinetti, Union City Council member. “Union City is such a great community. I’m so proud to be a part of this day.”
