Brick Man ID'd As $50K Powerball Winner As Jackpot Grows

BRICK, NJ — All it takes is one. A single $2 Powerball ticket turned out to be worth $50,000 for a Brick Township man, New Jersey Lottery officials announced Thursday.

As the Powerball jackpot begins to reach historic levels — at $435 million, with a cash value of $273.1 million, it's the eighth largest — state lottery officials were highlighting New Jersey residents who've won big prizes in the game this year.

Joseph Shafto Jr. of Brick was one of those. His single $2 quick-pick ticket in the Feb. 18 drawing was one of four that won $50,000 prizes, lottery officials said Thursday. That same drawing also produced a $1 million winner, officials said.

Shafto "typically wagers a few dollars playing Mega Millions and Powerball," officials said, and bought his ticket on the Thursday before the drawing at Wine World, 2085 Route 88 in Brick. That Saturday, his fiancée and her mother discussed Shafto's hopeful lottery ticket purchase over lunch, with a wink and a smile about his chances of winning.

When Shafto checked his ticket on Sunday, he discovered he had won $50,000, officials said. Shafto told them he plans to use the money to pay off some bills and to provide tuition funds.

The current jackpot is the result of 19 draws without a winner. Since this roll began on April 5, there have been two $1 million New Jersey Lottery prizewinners and 18 $50,000 prizewinners., lottery officials said.

Lottery officials said a New Jersey Lottery ticket brought home a $429.6 million win on May 7, 2016, when the Smith family of Trenton claimed the prize.

“Congratulations to all of the lottery players who purchased winning tickets and to the retailers that sold them,” said Carole Hedinger, New Jersey Lottery executive director. “I’d like to remind players to purchase their Powerball tickets with a winning attitude and add Power Play to the ticket purchase. Power Play doubles the second prize from $1 million to $2 million and multiplies all of the seven lower prize sets available in the game by the number drawn that evening. The jackpot prize is not multiplied.”

Joseph Shafto Jr. of Brick. Photo courtesy of New Jersey Lottery