New Jersey Couple Claims Half of Record $390M Jackpot
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ATLANTIC CITY — A Cape May County couple claimed half the record $390 million Mega Millions jackpot yesterday, and said they are now retired — effective immediately.
Elaine and Harold Messner chose the cash option from the March 6 drawing. They will receive $116,557,083 before the 25% federal withholding tax.
“We feel very fortunate and blessed,” said Harold Messner, 57, who purchased the winning ticket. “This is that early retirement we’ve always dreamed of. Now we can do all those things we said we would do once we retired.”
The Messners commented in a statement issued through their lawyer, Richard King of Linwood, who said they would not speak with reporters or attend a news conference to discuss their prize.
“They have asked me not to release any additional information beyond what was included in the press release,” Mr. King said.
Mr. Messner, a general contractor, and his wife, who is 56, live in the Tuckahoe section of Upper Township, not far from the liquor store where they purchased the winning ticket.
A truck driver in Georgia had the other winning ticket.
The couple let the lottery machine randomly select numbers for them.
Harold Messner said in the statement that he was surprised when he saw the quick pick he had purchased at Campark Liquors in Woodbine had all the winning numbers. He says he and his wife didn’t sleep for the rest of the night.
“I checked the last number twice, called for my wife and told her we won,” he said. “She had a very hard time believing it.”
Neighbors said they suspected something was amiss when they saw the Messners erect “No Trespassing” and “Beware of the Dog” signs outside their home over the weekend.
“They don’t own a dog,” neighbor Rosemary Trout told The Press of Atlantic City.
“In a lot of ways, we’re still recovering from the shock of winning all this money,” Harold Messner said. “I know this means we’re officially a retired couple, but past that, Elaine and I are still sorting all of this out. We have some ideas about what we want to do with this big win, but haven’t made any big decisions yet.”
