There was more than just spare change and takeout menus hiding in one New Jersey couple’s junk drawer—a million-dollar surprise was waiting to be discovered.
While doing a bit of spring cleaning earlier this month, a couple from Mercer County stumbled upon three old Mega Millions lottery tickets they had completely forgotten about. Purchased on New Year’s Eve from a Speedymart Food Store in West Trenton, the tickets had been collecting dust for months, tucked away among the usual odds and ends.
Curious but not expecting much, one of the winners decided to scan the tickets. “I just opened the drawer and saw the tickets,” they told New Jersey Lottery officials. “I decided to get them checked. I scanned them. One said ‘not a winner,’ then another said ‘not a winner,’ and then I scanned a ticket that said ‘winner.’”
That winning ticket turned out to be worth a staggering $1 million.
Fortunately for the couple, the ticket was still well within the one-year claim window required under New Jersey Lottery rules. Had they waited any longer, their story might have taken a very different turn.
While the couple has chosen to remain anonymous, they did share their plans for the unexpected windfall. “For us, it’s more about helping the children, making sure they don’t have debt,” they said.
It’s a heartwarming outcome made possible by a simple act of cleaning—and a powerful reminder for lottery players everywhere to double-check their drawers, glove compartments, and coat pockets. That forgotten ticket just might be worth a fortune.
