Jellybean guess is good for $25,000

Cristina Boyle
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, April 10th 2009, 4:00 AM

Theodorakis/News

Jessica Silverman wins $25,000 dollars after guessing how man jellybeans are in a jar, this is the second time she has guessed jellybeans in a jar correct.

A Harlem woman took home $25,000 Thursday for guessing the exact number of jelly beans in a jar - for the second time in her life.

The first time Jessica Silverman struck it lucky was 21 years ago, when she was a 5-year-old kindergarten student and the trophy was a stuffed toy dragon.

This time, the prize will help her put a deposit on a new home after she correctly guessed there were 7,954 treats on display at a stand in the Hilton hotel on Sixth Ave. Tuesday.

"I'm a lucky girl, and I was in the right place at the right time," Silverman said. "This is going to the 'Get Jessica a first apartment' fund."

Silverman was randomly passing the stand, set up by insurance firm DeWitt Stern at the annual Co-op and Condo Expo, when she was convinced to try her luck.

"I just walked by the booth because I was meeting friends for coffee," she said. "Someone manning the booth told me to take a stab at $25,000 - it was a very good stab."

Silverman, the director of development for fashion designer Norma Kamali, said she was in disbelief when she got a call saying she had won.

"I'm never entering another contest again," she said. "I want to end my guessing career on a good note."