Retired Queens handyman, 71, wins life-changing $476 Mega Millions jackpot but says his wife didn’t believe him when he told her as he reveals plans to splash out on a house, hybrid car and vacation
- Johnnie Taylor, 71, of Howard Beach, Queens, recently retired from working as a handyman
- Taylor said he wants to travel with his wife before they buy a new home
A retired handyman from Queens won a life-changing $476 million in the Mega Millions jackpot in April.
Johnnie Taylor, 71, of Howard Beach, Queens, has won the largest Mega Millions prize in New York State history since the game launched in the state in 2002.
Taylor — who chose not to be in the picture — recently retired from working as a handyman in Manhattan buildings. But now that he got lucky with the life-changing amount, he already has plans for his winnings.
Taylor said he wants to travel with his wife before they buy a new house and replace their 10-year-old Toyota Prius. Taylor said he will also donate some of the money to his local church.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” Taylor said.
Johnnie Taylor, 71, of Howard Beach, Queens – who chose not to have his face revealed – has taken home the largest Mega Millions prize in New York State history
Taylor said she tried to tell his wife about the life-changing total, but she didn’t believe him.
Skeptical of her husband’s claims that he had won the jackpot’s top prize, Taylor showed his wife online the winning numbers that matched his lottery ticket.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for the draw were 23-27-41-48-51, with Mega Ball 22.
Taylor chose to take the cash value of the annuity prize, a lump sum equal to the money in the prize pool totaling $157,288,402. He will receive this after the required state and federal withholding.
If he had chosen the annuity option, Taylor would have received an immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments, according to Mega Millions. Each payment is 5 percent larger than the previous one, but does not account for inflation.
Nearly all Grand Prize Winners choose to pay out in cash.
Taylor said he usually buys his tickets from a convenience store near his local Queens subway station — Liberty Beer and Convenience.
The retiree’s win also means that Liberty Beer and Convenience, located at 93-18 Liberty Avenue, will also receive money on behalf of his win. A store receives a $10,000 bonus from the New York Lottery for selling a lottery ticket that has won a jackpot.
He is also a regular player of Mega Millions and Powerball tickets and adds the multiplier when jackpots rise to $100 million. One ticket costs $2 and a megaplier multiplier costs $3.
Johnnie Taylor, 71, is from Howard Beach, Queens – an area that saw devastating flash floods during a winter storm last December 2022
Brian O’Dwyer, chairman of the New York State Gaming Commission, said: “The New York Lottery congratulates Mr. Taylor on winning this historic jackpot, the sale of which brought millions of dollars to New York public schools and lottery shops across the state. .’
Ticket sales leading up to the The $476 million jackpot had been a significant boost to New York State’s education, lottery and player aid.
The jackpot rolled 21 times before the April 14 drawing, generating more than $21 million for education, $4.1 million in commissions for retailers, and $10.4 million in non-jackpot winnings for players.
The previous Mega Millions win in New York State was a $437 million jackpot sold in Huntington in 2019.
The next draw will take place on Tuesday, June 6, with a massive $218 million jackpot.