HE’S IN THE MONEY: Junior Julian Etwaroo opted for a $2.1 million lump sum after winning Lotto. (
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A geeky guy from The Bronx — who says he doesn’t have a girlfriend — cashed in on a $5.3 million winning Lotto ticket yesterday.
Junior Julian Etwaroo, 22, opted for a $2.1 million lump sum payout after matching six jackpot numbers on June 29.
The T-shirt-sporting recent college grad said he plans to spend some of the dough on a graduate degree — but hadn’t yet planned how he’ll use all those Benjamins to up his game with the girls.
“I’ll see how it goes when it happens,” he said.
Winning millions was a shock to the quiet kid, who has been unemployed and struggling to find a job for weeks.
“[I]was happy I got the money — I checked the numbers online. I had to check them five or six times before I believed it,” he said.
“I just feel good. I’m just happy. That’s it,” he said.
Etwaroo, who graduated from Iona College in May, said he had continued to play the same random numbers for about a year before he actually won.
The numbers are seared in Etwaroo’s brain, and he could recite them easily from memory —“ 3, 7, 12, 13, 18, 20.”
He bought the winning ticket at a discount mart near his home, where he said he often plays other lottery games.
The newly rich man shared the news with his family — but said he kept it a secret from most of his friends.
Etwaroo was one of nine winners who took home state lottery prizes yesterday.
Other big winners included Eric Wane, an 80-year-old retired carpenter from Chelsea, who won $1 million from a Black Diamond scratch ticket.
He said he was inspired to buy the ticket because he’s an Elizabeth Taylor fan.
“I bought it strictly because I had admired Liz Taylor and I like diamonds,” he said referencing the star’s signature jewelry.
“She has white diamonds. Maybe me, I’ll take the black diamonds.”
Another winner, James Geoghan, 53, of Midwood, Brooklyn, won $5 million on a Maximum Millions scratch ticket on June 27 and cashed in yesterday.
“I was shocked. I was shaking and nervous,” he said, adding he’s been playing scratch tickets for 25 years.
He said he has no clue how he’ll spend the money but opted for a lump some of $3.1 million yesterday.