From GTA V Sweepstakes to College Fund: A Dodge Viper's Wild Ride
A custom Dodge Viper, originally won in a Grand Theft Auto V sweepstakes, sold for $80,100 in 2015. The car was a real-life replica of the Banshee from the game and had been owned by Cheri Parker, whose son won it in 2013. Despite its high-profile origins, Parker eventually decided to part with the flashy vehicle. The story began in 2013 when Cheri Parker allowed her son to use her credit card to buy GTA V. Unbeknownst to them, the purchase entered him into a nationwide sweepstakes, which he won. The prize was a custom Dodge Viper, designed by West Coast Customs to resemble the Banshee from the game. Since the transaction was made on Parker's card, she became the car's legal owner.
The Viper was first listed on eBay in 2014 with an asking price of $170,000, but it failed to attract a buyer. Parker and her son enjoyed driving the car for a time, but she later opted for something more practical. On January 30, 2015, the Viper finally sold at auction for $80,100.
Parker had clear plans for the proceeds. She intended to put the money toward her son's college education, turning a gaming prize into a long-term investment. The custom Dodge Viper, once a flashy prize from a video game sweepstakes, found a new owner in 2015. The $80,100 sale provided Parker with funds for her son's future. What started as a virtual adventure in GTA V ended with a real-world decision to prioritise education over extravagance.
