Carrie Edwards, a resident of Midlothian, Virginia, matched 4 out of the first 5 numbers and the Powerball in the Virginia Lottery drawing in early September. She initially won $50,000, but because she paid an extra $1 for the Power Play option, her prize tripled to $150,000, the NY Post reported on 20/9/2025.
Edwards said she doesn't frequently buy lottery tickets and used ChatGPT on her phone for number suggestions. "Hey ChatGPT, do you have any numbers for me?", she recalled asking the chatbot.
Two days later, while in a meeting, she received a notification on her phone about the win. At first, she thought it was a scam.
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Edwards (right) receiving her prize on 16/9. Photo: NYP |
Edwards (right) receiving her prize on 16/9. Photo: NYP
After verifying the information and confirming her win, Edwards decided to donate the entire $150,000 to charity.
"When unexpected good fortune comes your way, I knew exactly what I needed to do, and that was to give it all away, because I've been blessed a lot and I want people to see what we can do when we share with other people," she said.
She decided to donate a portion of the money to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD), which researches the disease that claimed her husband's life in 2024. The remainder will be donated to Shalom Farms, an organic farm that provides food security solutions, and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
Duc Trung (NY Post, ABC News)
