New Jersey Couple are Lottery Mega Millionaires

Sep 23, 2005, 11:50 am (30 comments)

Mega Millions

A married couple from Rutherford is the winner of the largest single-ticket lottery jackpot in New Jersey history.

Helen and Harold Lerner are the holders of a ticket for last Friday's $258 million Mega Millions jackpot.

Helen chose the cash option when she bought the ticket at a newsstand in Rutherford last week. The couple will receive $156,141,600 million, before the 25 percent federal income tax deduction.

Helen is a lifelong New Jersey resident, and her husband has lived in the state for 28 years. The couple said they only play when the jackpot exceeds more than $100 million.

Besides being New Jersey's largest single-ticket jackpot, the winner will collect the fifth-largest lottery jackpot ever awarded in the U.S., lottery officials said. Mega Millions is played in California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

The odds of any one ticket having the winning combination are one in more than 175 million. Proceeds from the lottery are shared among New Jersey's community colleges, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and other state institutions.

The previous state record for the highest single-ticket lottery jackpot was held by Sonny Judson of Cliffside Park, who won $165 million in the Mega Millions drawing of July 16, 2002.

The draw for the most recent Mega Millions winner began on July 26 with a jackpot of $12 million.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Chewie

The couple said they only play when the jackpot exceeds more than $100 million.

Sounds like a QP player.

MichiganHopeful's avatarMichiganHopeful

The couple said they only play when the jackpot exceeds more than $100 million.

Sounds like a QP player.

I Agree!

DoubleDown

The couple said they only play when the jackpot exceeds more than $100 million.

Sounds like a QP player.

And.... probably bought $5 worth of tix--if not just one QP.

 

BabyJC's avatarBabyJC

I wonder how old they are? -- Lucky ducks!

RJOh's avatarRJOh

The couple said they only play when the jackpot exceeds more than $100 million.

Sounds like a QP player.

That's one way to keep playing affordable.  Let the regular players build up the jackpot and only play when the jackpot gets over $100M, the odds of winning are the same and the payout is better.

catdaddy's avatarcatdaddy

CoolCon Grads to the winners

When you win big to have to go on TV and be interviewed?

BaristaExpress's avatarBaristaExpress

The couple said they only play when the jackpot exceeds more than $100 million.

Sounds like a QP player.

That's one way to keep playing affordable.  Let the regular players build up the jackpot and only play when the jackpot gets over $100M, the odds of winning are the same and the payout is better.

I Agree! 100%

tg636

The couple said they only play when the jackpot exceeds more than $100 million.

Sounds like a QP player.

That's one way to keep playing affordable.  Let the regular players build up the jackpot and only play when the jackpot gets over $100M, the odds of winning are the same and the payout is better.

I Agree! 100%

I agree too. But to me, winning $12 million would be as just as incredible and life changing as winning $200 million, so I don't know what amount to use as a cut off. 

RJOh's avatarRJOh

If you can afford to play and would be happy with a lower jackpot amount, by all means do because there won't be any big jackpots if no one plays when the jackpots are low.

Chewie

I wonder how old they are? -- Lucky ducks!

They both looked to be in the 40-50 range. Grey haired. Slightly over-weight. Very light skinned. About 5'9" on his side. About 5'6 on her side. Just your every day middle age New Jersey couple.

Oh - and VERY happy!

 

Chewie

If you can afford to play and would be happy with a lower jackpot amount, by all means do because there won't be any big jackpots if no one plays when the jackpots are low.

If I was in my 30's or 40', I would be after the big one. In my 60's, I don't have time to spend the big one I also don't have a large family. $10-20M would make the next 15-20 years super-great.

janav

I know the winner, he was a salesman for many companies for retail business.. (great guy)!

Someone was wondering about his age, he should be on his 50's... good for them..

I am sure we will never see him in the office again! Smile

jv

wizeguy's avatarwizeguy

I know the winner, he was a salesman for many companies for retail business.. (great guy)!

Someone was wondering about his age, he should be on his 50's... good for them..

I am sure we will never see him in the office again! Smile

jv

hi jv,

Welcome to Lottery Post! I'm happy for your workmate. Thumbs Up

wizeguy's avatarwizeguy

I know the winner, he was a salesman for many companies for retail business.. (great guy)!

Someone was wondering about his age, he should be on his 50's... good for them..

I am sure we will never see him in the office again! Smile

jv

hi jv,

Welcome to Lottery Post! I'm happy for your workmate. Thumbs Up

Oops, my bad. You just said you knew him. I assumed you worked with him but you might also be a client of his.

 

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