NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- A retired handyman from Queens won a record-setting $476 million Mega Millions jackpot with a ticket he bought at a local bodega, lotto officials revealed this week.
Johnnie Taylor, 71, claimed the April 14 jackpot, which is the largest Mega Millions prize won in New York since the game launched in the state in 2002, officials said Monday.
The prize topped a record $437 million jackpot sold in Huntington in 2019.
Taylor, of Howard Beach, opted to take a lump sum payment of about $157.2 million after state and federal taxes.
The recent retiree, who worked as a building handyman in Manhattan, said his wife didn’t believe him until he went online and showed her his ticket matched the winning numbers of 23-27-41-48-51 with a Mega Ball of 22.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” he said.
He wants to use the cash to travel, buy a new home and replace his 2012 Prius with a newer hybrid car. He also plans to donate to his local church.
Taylor purchased the winning ticket from Liberty Beer and Convenience at 93-18 Liberty Ave. in Ozone Park. The store will get a $10,000 bonus from the New York Lottery for selling the winning ticket.
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