An MTA worker stationed on Staten Island was left in disbelief when the New Jersey Lottery app informed her she won $1 million after playing Powerball last week.
Stacey Fiore of Barnegat Township won a life-changing award when she stopped at a Quick Stop in the Garden State city on Nov. 15 and made a quick selection for her games, Lottery officials said Over the weekend.
An MTA supervisor in the Big Apple reportedly joked with her coworkers that she wouldn’t come to work if she won, but forgot to check the numbers until more than a day later.
“I checked the numbers on (the lottery’s phone app) on Monday,” Fiore said in an NJ Lottery press release. “It said ‘Congratulations.’ You won a million dollars.”
“I checked again and again it said I had won,” she said.
A stunned Fiore then called home so her husband, Greg, who works as a bus operator for the MTA on Staten Island, could text her back to triple-check the numbers on the ticket.
His five numbers – 11, 24, 50, 56, and 66 – all matched but the Powerball number was off. His was 12 while the number drawn was 16.
“I told him he better not mess with me,” Fiore said, joking about her 32-year-old husband. “And did we buy real tickets?”
She is the 39th New Jersey Lottery draw game player to win at least $1 million this year. While winners can remain anonymous under state law, he’s happy to claim his big win.
“I love telling people,” Fiore said. “I went to the bank and asked to speak to the manager. I said ‘Do you know if someone here in town won $1 million? Well, that’s me!’ She was very excited. It’s good to celebrate.”
The couple’s children are also excited, Greg said, especially with the holidays approaching.
“Our kids…they’re happy for us,” Greg said. “But they know Christmas is coming.”
And while Fiore claimed she would not return to work if she won, this was more wishful thinking than a firm reality – which her husband also hoped to take advantage of.
“There probably won’t be any overtime for me now,” Greg said.
“Oh, there’s still going to be overtime for you!” Fiore counter-attacked.
The couple is still commuting an hour to work, but vacations may now be well into their future.
“I was in shock,” Fiore said. “You wait your whole life for this, and you’re still in shock.”
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