The winner of a $533 million lottery jackpot wasn’t sure he could believe his eyes. So, when his mother called to say someone in his new home state had won it, his response was: It wasn’t me.
Forty-seven-year-old Richard Wahl, of Vernon, New Jersey, was introduced Friday during a news conference at lottery headquarters after winning the half-billion March Mega Millions drawing, the largest single jackpot in state history.
Wahl, a production manager at a food services company in the northern part of the state, said he plans to retire and take the cash payout over the annuity, totaling $220.7 million after taxes.
He described finding out he had the winning ticket late at night:“It was truly amazing. Some of my family members were sleeping so I didn’t go and scream out. I walked upstairs. I saw my wife … and said, ‘Baby, we get to go on vacation.’ She said, ‘What are you talking about? Don’t be an idiot.'”
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Source: Mega Millions winner is New Jersey food production manager
