A Maryland grandmother has turned a fortune cookie’s numbers into a $50,000 Powerball win. The lucky winner, a Baltimore County resident, matched four out of five numbers plus the Powerball in the January 8 draw.
She said she often looks for “signs” before buying lottery tickets. The retired medical worker regularly eats at a restaurant that serves fortune cookies. On this occasion, she decided to try the numbers inside the cookie instead of her usual picks.
“I said, let me try something different,” she shared.
Her choice paid off, earning her a third-tier prize of $50,000. She was the first of four Maryland winners to claim a third-tier Powerball prize in 2025. The winning ticket was purchased at a convenience store in Parkville.
The woman also reads her horoscope daily and said she takes it as a sign to buy tickets when her horoscope mentions “numbers.” After this win, she plans to use her fortune cookie numbers again in other lottery games.
This is not her first win. She previously won $100 by matching three numbers plus the Powerball. Now, with a bigger prize in hand, she hopes to win the jackpot by matching all five numbers and the Powerball.
When asked about her plans for the $50,000, she said she hasn’t decided yet but likely will share it with her children and grandchildren.For this grandmother, a simple fortune cookie led to a life-changing fortune.
