With the Mega Millions jackpot growing to $150 million, New Yorkers had at least one lofty New Year's resolution: Get rich - quick.
Nobody had the lucky ticket for Friday's drawing, which padded the pot for Tuesday's pick in the multistate lottery and had folks dreaming of the improbable yesterday.
"I'd be happy to be among one of 100 winners," said Steven Rich - who hoped to live up to his name after buying 11 Mega Millions tickets in midtown.
Rich, 43, of Inwood, said his share would go toward buying a building on W. 140th St. that he has had his eye on for some time.
But winning the prize wouldn't change his life too dramatically, he insisted. "I would still work - I love my job," said Rich, a location manager for a film production company. "But I would go to work a lot happier."
Medardo Aquino, 19, stood outside Madison Square Garden after buying several tickets, studying the numbers that possibly could make him a multimillionaire.
"I would open up my own restaurant," said Aquino, a waiter from Kingsbridge, the Bronx. "It would be American and Irish food because it's what I like."
Although there was no winner for Friday's $125 million Mega Millions, 18 people came within one number, taking home a cool $175,000 each.
The odds of any single ticketholder getting all six winning numbers for Tuesday's drawing are 1 in 135,145,920.
Mega Millions is played in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, Washington state and Texas.
Barkat Ali is expecting a rush for tickets at his Lotto Magazine shop on Sdventh Ave. at 30th St. today and tomorrow. He got warmed up yesterday when one customer bought 200 tickets.
Even though he isn't playing, Ali, 40, said he will be paying close attention to Tuesday's pick.
"It will be very busy," he said. "If we sell the winning ticket, it's good, because everyone will know my store's name."
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