Winner Stories

"Ocean's 16": The Garage Workers Who Won a Powerball Share After Sandy

FutureEdges

Updated October 26, 2026 · 5 min read

Some lottery wins make headlines because of the size of the prize. The "Ocean's 16" win made headlines because of the timing. In August 2013, sixteen Ocean County, New Jersey workers won a share of a $448 million Powerball jackpot, less than a year after Superstorm Sandy had damaged the homes of several members.

The Story

The sixteen, nine women and seven men, were employees at the Ocean County vehicle maintenance garage in New Jersey. Each put in $6, and together they bought 48 Quick Pick tickets at an Acme supermarket in Little Egg Harbor. One of those tickets was among three that matched every number in the August 7, 2013 Powerball drawing, so the jackpot was split three ways.

The group named themselves "Ocean's 16," after the casino-heist films, and travelled together to claim their share. Reports at the time said at least six of the group had suffered damage to their homes in Sandy, and one winner said she planned to use her share to repair hers. Several said they went back to work the day after learning they'd won.

The Numbers

	Amount
Advertised jackpot	$448 million, split among three winning tickets
The group's one-third share (annuity value)	About $149 million
Lump sum for that share	About $86 million
Per person, before taxes	Roughly $5.4 million
Per person, after taxes (as reported)	Roughly $3.8 million
Each member's stake	$6 (48 tickets in total)

It is worth pausing on that last line. The "headline" figure and the amount actually received can be very different once the split, the lump-sum discount and taxes are applied:

$448 million on the billboard
÷ 3 winning tickets → about $149 million
Cash option instead of annuity → about $86 million
÷ 16 members → about $5.4 million each
After taxes → about $3.8 million each

A $448 million headline became under 1% of that per person. Still life-changing, but planning with the headline number is one of the most common mistakes new winners make. For more on this, see how much you take home from a $100 million win.

Lessons for Your Group

1. Jackpots can be shared with strangers

This win was one of three. When several tickets win, the prize is divided before your group divides it again. Your share of the jackpot is often smaller than the number on the billboard. That's one reason some groups prefer Quick Picks, which are less likely to land on popular patterns that other players also choose. See Quick Picks vs. custom numbers.

2. More tickets, small stakes

Sixteen people at $6 each bought 48 plays, far more than any of them would have bought alone. That's the core appeal of a pool: a small personal stake in a lot of tickets.

3. Headline vs. take-home

Decide, before any win, whether the group will take the lump sum or the annuity, and make sure every member understands that taxes come out of either. A short conversation now avoids an ugly surprise later.

4. Money lands on real lives

For these workers, the prize meant rebuilding. Every group has members whose finances are different, which is why an agreement about splitting winnings fairly is so important: decide the rules while everyone is still calm.

5. Keep the paperwork tight

A sixteen-person claim means sixteen sets of names, addresses and taxpayer details. Groups usually handle this with a shared statement of ownership, as explained in our Form 5754 guide.

6. Staying grounded helps

Going back to work the next day may sound strange, but it reflects good advice: don't make big life changes in the first rush. Our 48-hour checklist for winning groups explains why.

💡 Know Your Share Before the Draw

FutureEdges keeps each member's contributions and the group's tickets in one visible record, so when it's time to claim, nobody has to reconstruct who was in.

"The jackpot on the billboard and the check in your hand are two different numbers. Plan with the second one."