Someone in New Jersey won the $273 million Mega Millions jackpot on Friday, according to the lottery's website.

Only one ticket matched the numbers 29 - 33 - 39 - 60 - 66 and Megaball 21. The ticket was sold at a QuickChek convenience store in Phillipsburg in Warren County.

The jackpot was estimated to be $267 million before the drawing, but it went up to $273 million based on sales.

If the winner chooses the cash option, the ticket will be worth $162.6 million.

"Congratulations to the winner of this multi-million dollar jackpot," said James Carey Jr., the lottery's acting executive director. "We encourage the winner to sign the back of the ticket, make a copy of both sides and put it in a safe place."

Matthew Murphy, a district manager for QuickChek, who oversees the store where the winning ticket was sold, said he believed Friday's prize was the biggest that had ever been won at one of his stores.

"You can always fantasize about it," Murphy said, "but until it hits, you don't know."

Russ Mensch, a spokesman for QuickChek, headquartered in Whitehouse Station, later confirmed that Friday's jackpot was, in fact, the largest lottery prize ever won at one of its stores. There are more than 150 QuickCheks in New Jersey and New York.

John Rakowski, the store's manager, said he also played the lottery. He said he double-checked — and, triple-checked — his tickets to make sure they were not winners.

But, he said, "Someone won here, and that is big. Once you have a big winner, your name gets out there."

Rakowski said he hopes the jackpot will bring attention and more customers to the store in the town on the Pennsylvania border.

"I'm sure a lot of people are going to come in, check their tickets and, probably, try to buy some more," Rakowski said.

If he wins the lottery, Rakowski said, he would help his family and close friends.

Upcoming drawings

The Mega Millions jackpot will reset to a cool $40 million for Tuesday night's drawing; the winner of that bundle would have a cash option of $23.8 million.

Meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot has reached $348 million for Saturday night's drawing. The cash option would be $211.9 million, according to Powerball's website.

In addition to Friday's jackpot, a $10,000 ticket was sold at Banner Deli & Liquors on Broad Avenue in Palisades Park.

Friday's jackpot marks the second straight year that a Mega Millons winning ticket was sold in New Jersey in March, lottery officials say.

A Mega Millions jackpot had not been won since New Year's Day, when 23 co-workers from New York won $437 million.

If you win the Mega Millions jackpot, you should call a lawyer and be ready to tell a lot of people no because your life would get hectic.

And, if you hope to stay under the radar with your prize — think again!

In New Jersey, winners are required to be identified. However, a bill has been introduced in the state Legislature to allow winners to remain anonymous.