NYC: 71-year-old retired handyman wins $476 million jackpot
Luck can come to us in many ways. It came through the Mega Millions lottery jackpot for 71-year-old Johnnie Taylor. A retired handyman from New York City, Taylor won a whopping $476 million (nearly Rs. 40 crore). The winnings were announced by the New York Lottery on Monday. Here is what we know about the handyman and his jackpot.
What is the Mega Million jackpot?
Mega Millions is one of America's biggest jackpot games. The proceeds from the sale of lottery tickets provide millions of dollars to New York's education budget, even though the majority of the money raised by the lottery is reinvested in prizes for its different games of chance. Taylor won the largest amount in Mega Millions since the game was launched in 2002.
Taylor used to be a regular jackpot player
A regular player, Taylor frequently purchased quick-pick tickets for the Mega Millions and added the multiplier when the prizes approached $100 million. Taylor usually buys his tickets at Liberty Beer and Convenience in Queens - which is a convenience store near his local subway station. This time, the winning numbers were 23-27-41-48-51 with a Mega Ball number of 22.
It still doesn't feel real: Taylor
"It still doesn't feel real," says Taylor. Taylor who had retired recently as a handyman in Manhattan had sorted out plans with the winnings. With the proceeds, he plans to travel, purchase a new house, and trade in his 2012 Prius for a more recent hybrid car. He also intends to donate to his nearby church.
New York Lottery congratulates Taylor
New York State Gaming Commission Chairman Brian O'Dwyer shared, "The New York Lottery congratulates Mr. Taylor on winning this historic jackpot, the sales for which brought millions of dollars to New York's public schools and lottery retailers across the state." Taylor accepted the cash value of the reward, which, after necessary state and federal withholding, came to $157.3 million in a single lump sum.
