Johnnie Taylor, 71, of Howard Beach in Queens, has won the record-setting $476 million Mega Millions jackpot from April 14, 2023. This is the largest Mega Millions prize won in New York State since the game launched in the state in 2002. The winning Mega Millions numbers for the drawing were 23-27-41-48-51, with Mega Ball 22.
Taylor opted to take the cash value of the annuitized prize, a lump sum payment totaling $157,288,402 after required state and federal withholding.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” Taylor said, noting that his wife didn’t believe him when he told her that he knew who won the jackpot and then announced he had won the top prize. She was skeptical, so he went online to prove that the numbers on his ticket matched all the winning numbers.
Taylor, who recently retired from his job as a building handyman in Manhattan, already has some plans for his winnings. He wants to travel, buy a new home, and replace his 2012 Prius with a newer model hybrid vehicle. He also plans to donate to his local church.
Taylor typically buys his tickets at Liberty Beer and Convenience in Queens, a convenience store near his local subway station. He regularly plays Mega Millions and Powerball quick pick tickets and adds the multiplier when jackpots rise to $100 million.
Liberty Beer and Convenience, located at 93-18 Liberty Avenue, will receive a $10,000 bonus from the New York Lottery for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.
“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,” said New York State Gaming Commission Chairman Brian O’Dwyer.
The ticket sales leading up to the $476 million jackpot brought a significant fiscal impact to New York State’s Aid to Education, Lottery retailers and players. The jackpot rolled 21 times ahead of the April 14 drawing generating more than $21 million for education, $45.26 million in commissions for retailers, and $10.4 million in non-jackpot winnings for players.
The previous New York State record Mega Millions win was a $437 million jackpot sold in Huntington in 2019.