After a season filled with twists, turns, alliances, and shocking eliminations, Squid Game: The Challenge has finally crowned a winner. In case you didn’t get a chance to watch Netflix’s newest reality competition, allow me to give you a quick breakdown. Squid Game: The Challenge is based on Netflix’s Emmy-winning drama Squid Game and follows 456 contestants as they compete in a series of child-like games for a chance to win a grand prize of $4.56 million.
After 10 episodes that had many of us on the edge of our seats, one contestant reigned victorious over the rest and was awarded the $4.56 million jackpot. Now that a winner has been crowned, I can’t help but wonder: Did they walk away with the entire cash prize? Spoiler Warning: Spoilers for Squid Game: The Challenge follow.
Who won season 1 of Squid Game: The Challenge?
The season finale of Squid Game: The Challenge premiered on Dec. 6. and saw three players — Phill, Mai, and Sam — playing the last games to determine who would be the champion.
First, the players indulged in a lavish meal and were then instructed to take part in a game of chance, in which they pushed a button that could seal their fate in the game. Mai went first and pushed the button that had “zero consequence.” Sam then decided to press his luck but ended up being eliminated, leaving Mai and Phill to go head-to-head in the final game.
The next day, Mai and Phill played the classic childhood game Rock, Paper, Scissors. The winner of each round was able to pick a key to see if it opened the safe containing the prize money. In the end, Mai found the right key, making her the winner and $4.56 million richer.
Did Mai walk away with the entire $4.56 million prize?
Although Mai won the $4.56 million grand prize, she doesn’t get to keep the full amount to herself. Since Mai is a U.S. citizen, she’s bound by U.S. tax regulations, meaning she must give a portion of her prize money to the IRS.
According to Forbes, all winnings on game shows — especially those more than $1,000 — are taxed up to 37%. Since Mai won $4.56 million on Squid Game: The Challenge, the IRS is entitled to $1.68 million of her prize money, meaning she actually walked away from the show with just $2.8728 million.
You’ve got to love Uncle Sam.