By: Richard L. Smith
A lucky Essex County resident is heading into the Memorial Day weekend $5.9 million richer after matching all six numbers in Thursday night’s Pick-6 drawing, marking the third-largest New Jersey Lottery jackpot awarded this year.
According to information released by the New Jersey Lottery, the winning numbers drawn on May 22 were 20, 21, 30, 31, 42, and 44.
The winning ticket was sold at Eisenhower Exxon, located at 550 Eagle Rock Avenue on the corner of Eisenhower Parkway in Roseland.
As a reward for selling the ticket, the retailer will receive a $30,000 bonus.
This is the latest in a string of major Pick-6 wins in 2025, all coincidentally occurring in the third week of their respective months.
Previous Pick-6 jackpots included a $32 million win on January 20 in Jackson and a $5.5 million prize claimed March 20 in Clark.
“We’re starting to see some big wins this spring, which is great. We want to see that excitement build as we turn to what we hope is a busy summer for winners,” said Lottery Executive Director James Carey.
So far this year, Pick-6 has accounted for three of the top four jackpots issued by the New Jersey Lottery. The largest 2025 prize came from a Cash4Life ticket worth $7 million (cash value) won on May 14 in Union County.
Although this week’s $5.9 million windfall is one of the year’s biggest, it still falls short of the all-time Pick-6 record—a $48.9 million jackpot claimed in Clifton, Passaic County, back in 2001.
The Pick-6 jackpot will reset to $2 million for the next drawing scheduled on Monday, May 26.