Man nearly forgets winning $273M lottery ticket

ALPHA, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey man says he almost forgot his $273 million jackpot-winning Mega Millions lottery ticket at the store where he bought it.

Mike Weirsky tells NJ.com he was messing with his phone when he walked out of a Quick Check store in Pohatcong Township and left behind the tickets he had bought.

The 54-year-old says a good Samaritan found the tickets and gave them to the store to hold until Weirsky returned.

Weirsky found out Sunday he had won the top prize. He is due to appear Thursday with lottery officials at a news conference to discuss his experience.

Weirsky says he was a “bum” before and after high school, so maybe he’ll be a “beach bum” now.