April 29th Powerball Drawing Created 18 Millionaires in New Jersey

TRENTON (June 1, 2026) – More than a month after the historic April 29 Powerball drawing that produced 18 millionaires across New Jersey, the New Jersey Lottery continues to celebrate the 15 winners who stepped forward and eagerly await the three who have not checked their tickets yet.

While we wait for our final three millionaires to come forward, the New Jersey Lottery is sharing more incredible stories behind four of the winners who have already claimed their life-changing prizes. Their experiences prove that sometimes fate, persistence, and a little bit of stubbornness can pay off in extraordinary ways.

Birthday Luck Meets Good Karma

One winner, who chose numbers connected to their birthday, shared that they believe the windfall was “karma for a really good deed.” “I always try to do the right thing, and I guess the universe was paying attention.” The million-dollar prize will help pay off their home and support family members.

A Dream Deferred, Then Delivered

The most remarkable story comes from a player who experienced what can only be described as destiny with a six-month delay. “I had this vivid dream where I was winning the lottery, and the numbers were crystal clear,” the winner explained. The next morning, they purchased a ticket with the exact numbers but didn’t win. Disappointed, they tossed the play slip onto their dresser and forgot about it.

Six months later, while moving items on the dresser, the play slip tumbled out. “Something just told me to try those numbers one more time,” they said. That instinct resulted in a $1 million payday. “I guess I got a million reasons why listening to that little voice was the right decision.”

Stubbornness Pays Off

Another winner had been faithfully playing the same set of numbers for years. Their spouse repeatedly suggested it was time for a change. “My wife kept telling me to pick new numbers, but I told her, “No way, these numbers are going to win,” the winner recalled with a laugh. “And wouldn’t you know it, they hit the very next drawing!” The $2 million Power Play prize (they always add the Power Play option, just in case) will fund an early retirement for the couple.

Home Sweet Home

The fourth winner in this final group always dreamed of owning a home. But for so long, that was all it could be because the numbers did not add up to make it a reality. When claiming the prize the winner said, “this is the best surprise of my life!” The hunt for the perfect home will have to wait until after the money reaches their account. “Until then, it just feels like a beautiful dream. I keep asking my family to pinch me.”

Three Million-Dollar Tickets Still Out There

Of the 18 winning tickets sold in New Jersey, 15 have been claimed. Three tickets worth $1 million each remain unclaimed. New Jersey Lottery officials urge all players who purchased Powerball tickets for the April 29 drawing to check their tickets carefully.

“We can’t wait to meet our final three millionaires and hear their stories,” said New Jersey Lottery Executive Director James A. Carey. “The winners we’ve met so far have shared incredible stories of birthday luck, dream inspired intuition, or good old-fashioned persistence. These experiences remind us that lottery dreams really come true. We know there are three more amazing stories out there and we hope those winners check their tickets soon.”

Don’t Let Your Prize Expire!

Winners have one year from the drawing date to claim their prize. The April 29 Powerball drawing produced a split jackpot with Kansas and Indiana sharing $143.4 million. Nationwide there were 89 second-tier winners, and New Jersey garnered a surprising 18 second-tier winners—four tickets winning $2 million and 14 winning $1 million.

Could you be one of three? Check your tickets today!

Powerball tickets are $2 each with drawings held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at approximately 11:00 pm. For more information about New Jersey Lottery games and to check your numbers, visit NJLottery.com.