Ocean County, NJ, Carpenter Wins $2 Million, Still Shows Up for Work

• An anonymous Bayville carpenter won $2 million on a Mega Millions ticket
• He missed a $345 million jackpot by one number
• He plans to pay off his mortgage and remodel his home, but says he has no plans to retire

Bayville, N.J. — An Ocean County carpenter who has spent his life building things with his hands just built himself a little financial security -- a $2 million Mega Millions prize that he almost didn't believe was real.

The winner, who has asked to remain anonymous, bought his quick-pick lottery ticket at the Country Food Market on Route 9 in Bayville before the October 6th drawing.

As a habit, he checks his tickets the morning after each drawing.

Before hitting this jackpot, his previous win never topped $1,500.

On October 8th, he sat down with his ticket and started checking numbers. All five white balls matched: 26, 32, 42, 51, and 54. That was worth $1 million on its own. Then he noticed the 2X multiplier, making that little slip of paper worth two million dollars.

He studied the ticket. He still couldn't believe it.

The kicker: he was one number away from the full $345 million jackpot. His Mega Ball was 21, and the winning number was 22.

That evening, he and his wife celebrated at home, talking about their good fortune for hours. They told the dog. The dog kept the secret. He still couldn't sleep.

The next morning, he went to work.

He plans to pay off his mortgage and tackle some home remodeling projects. Retirement, though, isn't something he's considering.

"I am not going to sit around," he said when claiming his prize at New Jersey Lottery headquarters. "I love to work. Building things with my own hands is who I am."

Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com