
A New Jersey couple stumbled upon a $1 million lottery ticket while spring cleaning, turning a forgotten piece of paper into a life-changing fortune just in time.
At a Glance
- A Mercer County couple discovered a forgotten $1 million Mega Millions ticket while cleaning
- The ticket, bought on New Year’s Eve, matched all five white balls in the drawing
- It had sat in a junk drawer for nearly five months before being scanned
- Winners have one year to claim prizes in New Jersey, and they made it just in time
- The couple plans to use the money to help their children avoid debt
Jackpot in the Junk Drawer
A routine spring cleaning chore turned into a million-dollar surprise for a couple in West Trenton, New Jersey. As they sorted through a cluttered drawer, they came across three old Mega Millions tickets purchased from Speedymart Food Store on New Year’s Eve. Thinking little of it, they scanned the tickets—and on the third try, the screen flashed: “Winner.”
“I thought maybe $1,000. Or $10,000. I couldn’t believe it—$1 million?!?” the winner recalled in disbelief. The ticket matched all five white balls from the drawing, securing the second-tier Mega Millions prize.
Watch a report: NJ Couple Finds $1M Ticket While Cleaning.
Timing Is Everything
In New Jersey, lottery winners have one year to claim their prize. With just months left on the clock, the couple unknowingly skirted expiration by a narrow margin. The state lottery confirmed that they have officially claimed their winnings.
While some winners might rush to buy luxury cars or dream vacations, this couple took a different path. “For us, it’s more about helping the children, making sure they don’t have debt,” they told lottery officials. Their selfless approach to sudden fortune reflects a quiet gratitude and a clear vision for the future.
A Reminder to Check the Small Things
This heartwarming discovery is more than just good luck—it’s a powerful reminder that life-changing opportunities can sometimes be buried in the ordinary. Forgotten tickets, old drawers, and overlooked corners of daily life may hold more than clutter.
As the New Jersey Lottery noted, this story underscores why it pays—literally—to check those forgotten stubs before they expire. And for this Mercer County couple, what started as a spring cleaning task ended in a million-dollar revelation.