An MTA employee stationed on Staten Island was in disbelief when he was informed he had won $1 million from the New Jersey Lottery app after playing Powerball last week.
Stacey Fiore of Barnegat Township won a life-changing prize when she stopped by the Garden State town's Quick Stop on Nov. 15 and pulled the game's Quick Pick. Lottery officials said Over the weekend.
An MTA supervisor in the Big Apple reportedly joked to colleagues that he wouldn't come to work if he won, but forgot to check the numbers until more than a day later.
“When I checked the numbers on Monday, [Lottery’s phone app]” Fiore said in a New Jersey Lottery press release. “It said, 'Congratulations.' You won $1 million.”
“I checked again and it still said I won,” she added.
Alarmed, Fiore called her husband, Greg, who works as a bus driver for the Staten Island MTA, at home to give her ticket number and double check.
All five of her numbers (11, 24, 50, 56, 66) matched, but the Powerball number was off. Her number was 12, but the number drawn was 16.
“I told him he better not mess with me,” Fiore jokingly said of her husband of 32 years. “So you bought a real ticket?”
She is the 39th player to win at least $1 million in the New Jersey Lottery this year. Although state law allows winners to remain anonymous, she is happy to brag about her big win.
“I like talking to people,” Fiore said. “I went to the bank and asked to speak to the branch manager. I said, 'Do you know someone here in town who won a million dollars?' Well, that's me! She was so excited. It's good to celebrate. ”
Greg said the couple's children are also excited, especially since the holidays are coming up.
“Our kids… are happy for us,” Greg said. “But they know Christmas is coming.”
Fiore claimed she wouldn't go back to work if she won, but that was more wishful thinking than hard reality, and her husband hoped to take advantage of that.
“Maybe there won't be any more overtime,” Greg said.
“Oh, there's still overtime!” Fiore shot back.
The couple still has an hour commute to work, but they may be able to take a fun vacation in the future.
“I was just shocked,” Fiore said. “You've been waiting your whole life for this and you're still in shock.”
