Mega Millions Powerball winner, Mario Scarnici of Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, came forward to claim his $86 million cash prize (before taxes).
He is the third of the prize winners to split a massive $448 million Powerball jackpot which was drawn on August 7th.
Scarnici reportedly purchased the winning ticket at a local supermarket, called the Super Sop & Shop in South Brunswick, according to New Jersey lottery officials.
A night manager from the store, Jose Perez, told reporters in a telephone interview that the fact that the winning ticket been purchased at his store has been fantastic for business, “We were happy first of all that we sold it. We sold a ticket before but nobody claimed it,” he said. As a bonus on top of that, the store will receive a $30,000 bonus commission for selling the ticket.
CentralJersey.com reported on its website that the Mega Millions winner came forward with his two grown sons to claim his prize. He opted for the cash option, which will have him paying approximately $24 million in taxes from his winnings. He won’t be too upset though, as he stands to take home a whopping $62 million!
The first Powerball winners to claim their prize were a syndicate of 16 Ocean County Maintenance workers, nicknamed “Ocean’s 16,” who bought their winning ticket at the Acme Markets in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. They will each take home about $3.8 million.
We congratulate the Mega Millions Powerball winners on getting the lucky numbers which will no doubt change their lives forever, especially as the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are around 175 million to one!