Democratic candidate Andrew Yang promised Thursday to give $120,000 to 10 lucky people.

During his opening statements at the third round of Democrat debates in Houston, Texas Thursday night, Yang said that 'someone watching this at home right now' would be able to win $1,000 per month for a year.

Yang is calling the initiative the Freedom Dividend Pilot Program, and will give money to 10 individuals from funds donated to his campaign.

In the days leading up to the third round of Democratic debates, Yang teased a 'surprise' that would come out on stage in Houston, Texas Thursday night.

'In America today everything revolves around the ultimately dollar,' Yang said as the first line of his opening statement. 'We have to get our country working for us again, instead of the other way around.'

'That's why I'm going to do something unprecedented tonight,' he continued. 'My campaign will now give a freedom dividend of $1,000 a month for an entire year for 10 American families, somebody watching this at home right now.'

'If you believe that you can solve your own problems better than any politician, go to Yang2020.com and tell us how $1,000 a month will help you do just that,' he promoted. 'This is how we will get our country working for us again, the American people.'

Democratic 2020 candidate Andrew Yang unveiled during the debate Thursday night that his campaign would be giving $120,000 to 10 families

Pete Buttigieg laughed in response to Yang's proposal. The South Bend, Indiana mayor, who was set to follow Yang's opening statement, thew his hand up in defeat and said, 'It's original, I'll give you that'

Yang, promising money to supporter, was a tough act to follow – but Pete Buttigieg had to do just that.

Before beginning his opening statement, Buttigieg sighed and dropped his hand on the podium in defeat.

'It's original, I'll give you that,' he said with a smile towards Yang.

Yang, who usually falls within the second-tier of the 20 candidates running in the Democratic primary, is already personally financing this program for three families – but the ten new individuals will receive money directly from his campaign.

The three current dividend recipients are Jodie Fassi of New Hampshire, Malorie Shannon of Florida and Kyle Christensen of Iowa.

His campaign advertised that those individuals claim they are already reaping the benefits of the addition funds from being able to afford healthcare, to making home improvements and fixing cars needed for work transportation.

'The campaign is excited to work together with our supporters to help create more stories about what the Freedom Dividend means for American families. It will enable and empower citizens to pay their bills, switch jobs, take care of loved ones, and plan for the future,' Yang's campaign manager Zach Graumann said in a statement.

'It will build a trickle-up economy, from our people, families, and communities up,' he said.

The statement from his campaign also said that the program fell within the Federal Election Commission guidelines - although one expert said it is unclear whether that is true.

Anthony Corrado, told CNBC: 'If the payments are made from the campaign, this will certainly raise questions as to whether they are permitted under the law, but at present how the law should be applied to these payments is a gray area for which there are no direct precedents.'

He did gain instant support, however, from Alexis Ohanian, the Reddit co-founder and husband of Serena Williams, who tweeted: 'Hey I like this idea so much I'll do it personally for those 10 people if you can't.'

Backing: Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit, said he would step in to fund the universal basic income competition if Andrew Yang was unable to

Yang, a political outsider and previous long-shot candidate, has exhibited his ability to use social media to gain traction as his supporters and campaign complain he has been largely ignored by most major media outlets.

Getting the backing of Ohanian comes after Elon Musk publicly voiced his support for the political ingenue.

He has also engaged in several stunts to increase his visibility in a crowded field of 20 candidates – half of which appeared on the debate stage Thursday night.

Following a speech at the Asian America and Pacific Islander Democratic Presidential Forum in Costa Mesa, California Sunday, Yang crowd surfed.

'One of my goals for this campaign was to crowd surf. I think this may be the time,' the 44-year-old tech entrepreneur said before he jumped into the crowd.

He also posted video of him ‘warming up’ for the Democrat debates this week by shooting some hoops, and engaged in a Twitter back and forth with Senator Ted Cruz, accepting a challenge to play a 4-on-4 charity basketball game between them and their staff.