In a recent interview, the winner of “Squid Game: The Challenge” revealed that she hasn’t received a dime of her 4.56 million USD prize
After 10 episodes, the reality show “Squid Game: The Challenge” officially concluded, with 55-year-old Mai Whelan emerging as the winner of the 4.56 million USD.
However, despite expectations that Mai is swimming in wealth after the dramatic show, netizens were surprised to learn that she has not received a single penny of her prize money, 10 months after finishing filming.
In an interview with The Times, Mai jokingly mentioned her situation and “urged” the production team for payment, saying, “I feel like Tom Cruise in ‘Jerry Maguire;, ‘Show me the money!’”
Meanwhile, speaking to Vanity Fair, a production insider explained that when organizing reality shows, the organizers always inform the participants about the payment schedule. According to them, the winner will receive their prizes within a certain period after the final episode airs.
Even though she hasn’t seen the 4.56 million USD in her account, Mai has spent a considerable amount to change her fashion style whenever participating in events. In a recent press conference for “Squid Game: The Challenge”, she appeared with a short haircut and wore luxury clothing, saying, “I still have buyer’s remorse from that, but I think it’s well deserved”.
At the same time, Mai revealed her plans for using the prize money, saying, “I’m thinking about a retirement home somewhere. We don’t know where yet, and we are happy with where we are. We live on the water. It’s very peaceful.”
Additionally, she plans to allocate some funds to charitable projects, especially those “for the underprivileged, wildlife, and climate change”.
Source: Vanity Fair, K14
