Johnnie Taylor, a retired handyman from Queens, has emerged as the lucky winner of the astounding $476 million Mega Millions jackpot from April. The 71-year-old resident of Howard Beach in Queens has opted to receive a lump sum payment of $157,288,402.

Taylor expressed his disbelief, saying, “It still doesn’t feel real.” When he informed his wife about his win, she was skeptical and needed proof. Taylor had to go online to confirm that the numbers on his ticket matched the winning combination: 23-27-41-48-51, with Mega Ball 22.

Having recently retired from his job as a handyman in Manhattan, Taylor now plans to fulfill his dreams with his newfound wealth. He intends to travel, buy a new home, and replace his 2012 Prius with a newer hybrid model. Taylor also plans to donate to his local church.

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Taylor typically purchased his tickets at Liberty Beer and Convenience, a convenience store near his local subway station in Queens. The store will receive a $10,000 bonus from the New York Lottery for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.

This Mega Millions win surpasses the previous New York State record of $437 million, which was won in Huntington in 2019.

For those interested in lottery drawings, the New York state lottery offers live broadcasts of their daily drawings at 2:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., with additional broadcasts on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8:15 p.m. Powerball drawings can be streamed on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m., while Mega Millions drawings take place on Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 p.m.

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Johnnie Taylor’s life has been forever changed by this incredible stroke of luck. As a retired handyman from Queens, he now embarks on a journey filled with new possibilities, fueled by his substantial winnings. Taylor’s story reminds us all of the remarkable potential held within a simple lottery ticket, inspiring dreams of what fortune may have in store for each of us.