Some New Yorkers dream of a green Christmas.
The Mega Millions jackpot soared to $1 billion on Christmas Eve. As the numbers were drawn on Tuesday night, hopes were high that the lucky winner would be able to snag a last-minute, life-changing cash gift.
The staggering jackpot has only grown since September, when a lucky winner in Texas walked away with a mind-boggling $810 million prize.
Patel, who works at a deli in Queens, estimated that more than 100 tickets were sold on Tuesday alone.
“It's tough, I'm very busy,” the 22-year-old, who works part-time at Forest Deli in Ridgewood, told the Post.
“Of course they want to win a billion dollars. They say, 'We'll give it to charity,' 'We'll give it to you, too.' We are looking forward to it for our customers as well. If my customer wins, I'm happy. ”
Lev Yushbayev, owner of Leo's Barbershop in Queens, bought two tickets in between haircuts. If they win, they will divide the wealth (about $250 million each) between their uncle and another employee at the store.
The father of four said he was “excited”.
“Right now I'm trying to get it, not just for myself, but for everyone here at the barbershop. I'm probably going to invest most of it. I'm going to spend it.
“I will give a quarter of each to one of my subordinates. You will see that everything has increased, including expenses.”
Salvatore Pinto, 35, owner of Joe & John's Pizzeria across the street, bought $20 worth of Mega Millions.
“I'm really excited,” Pinto said while wearing a Santa hat. “That 'B' is making me run to the deli again!”
If he's the lucky winner, he'll build a “pizza empire.”
“I just want to take care of my family and myself,” said the married father of his second child, due on New Year's Eve.
“I think if you had a billion dollars, even if only 100 people won, it would change a lot of people's lives. And when you're running a business in this day and age, especially during this time, you have to pay for food and everything. We're seeing prices go up.”
The jackpot is the seventh-largest Mega Millions lottery prize ever won on behalf of a Texas ticket.
The highest prize was $1.602 billion and was won in Florida in 2023.
The odds of winning a total of $1 billion are 1 in 302,575,350.
Ahead of Tuesday night's big drawing, two lucky New Yorkers have already won big prizes. Longwood, Bronx, charged a $33,573 take-five, and Woodside, Queens sold a $50,000 third-prize ticket.
