By Ivan Pereira
Queens’ newest multi-millionaire, who kept his identity hidden for three weeks after he won a $133 million jackpot, was all smiles Tuesday when he accepted his winnings at a special event at Grand Central Terminal.
Aubrey Boyce, 49, of Kew Gardens, said he would not use the winnings from the July 7 Mega Millions lottery game to live a lavish life, but would give it back to his family.
Boyce, who works as a collections agent for New York City Transit, set up a trust fund to handle most of the $82,762,912 lump sum payment and the rest will be used to take care of his wife of 15 years.
“I used to play the Lottery so I could win big — big enough to retire, have enough to live on,” he said in a statement. “Now I really don’t know what I’ll do beyond just taking care of my family.”
Boyce purchased the winning ticket from the Shiv Convenience Store at 169-09 Hillside Ave. hours before the winning numbers — 25, 27, 35, 38, 39 and Mega Ball 28 — were announced. The new millionaire said he usually spends $12 a week on lottery tickets and for the Mega Millions ticket, he chose a quick pick and a lump sum payment.
After news hit that the sole ticket had been purchased from the Jamaica grocery store, hundreds of customers rushed there the next morning to scan their tickets to see if they were the winner. Boyce was not one of them.
He said he went to a different store to check his numbers and could not believe his eyes when he was declared the winner.
“I went online to double check and there they were again: 25, 27, 35, 38, 39 and [Mega Ball] 28. My wife and I haven’t really slept since,” he said.
Shiv Convenience store also came out a winner. In addition to the boost in customers since the win, the state gave the store’s owners a $10,000 bonus for selling the ticket.
Boyce immediately signed the ticket and placed it in a safe deposit box. He said he and his wife waited to come forward with the ticket because they wanted the excitement to die down a bit.
Boyce set up a trust fund for $54,648,351 out of the lump sum. The leftover $28,114,561 will be used for rainy days, according to the winner. Boyce said he does not know yet whether he will quit his job at New York City Transit because he is still overwhelmed with the excitement of the win.
“It’s still very much a dream, a dream come true,” he said.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
