The winners of The Biggest Loser shed hundreds of pounds to gain thousands of dollars.
The weight loss competition, which ran on NBC for 17 seasons between 2004 and 2016 before returning in 2020 for an 18th and final season on USA Network, saw contestants work with trainers to devise workout and nutrition plans in order to lose a considerable amount of body weight over the course of 30 weeks.
Participants weighed in at the start of the season, and those weights served as the baseline for the competition. Whoever lost the largest percentage of weight compared to their starting point at the end of each season was named the winner — and walked away with a quarter-million-dollar prize.
Season 9 winner Michael Ventrella revealed to Chicago magazine in 2010 that he used his prize money — the half that didn’t go to taxes — to pay off his student debt, truck loan and credit cards.
“I have no money coming in and a lot of money going out. That scares me to death,” he admitted. However, Ventrella added of life after the show, “It’s been good and bad. The good part is I’m living, not only with my body but with my life. A year ago, I’d be trapped in a basement bedroom, jamming out on my computer.”
Meanwhile, season 18 winner Jim DiBattista told the Delco Times in 2020 that he didn’t care whether he won the prize money or not.
“I already won, getting rid of my health issues. I finally learned that I need to take time for myself in order to be a better, healthier person for myself and for everyone else,” he said.
Keep scrolling to learn more about The Biggest Loser grand prize and other prizes from the show:
What Was the Grand Prize on ‘The Biggest Loser’?
The winners of The Biggest Loser seasons 1 through 17 took home the grand prize of $250,000. (Of course, since game show prize money is considered income, it’s subject to federal and state taxes, which vary from state to state. Therefore, the amount taken home after taxes may have been different for each winner.)
In season 18, which was considered a reboot of The Biggest Loser, the prize money amount changed, going down to $100,000. However, DiBattista also won a home gym and a trip to Universal Studios in Florida.
What Was the At-Home Prize on ‘The Biggest Loser’?
In addition to the grand prize, The Biggest Loser also offered something called the “at-home prize,” which was money awarded to the person who lost the most amount of weight after leaving the competition. In seasons 1 through 17, the at-home winners received $100,000. Season 18’s at-home winner, Megan Hoffman, won $25,000.
“My biggest transformation was not even my weight,” Hoffman said of her victory in 2020, per Deadline. “It was my mind shift and the ability to start taking myself and my dreams seriously. I gained my life back on more than just a health level. I’ll never settle again and I owe that to The Biggest Loser.”
Did Contestants on ‘The Biggest Loser’ Get Paid?
Even contestants who didn’t win The Biggest Loser walked away with some money. Season 4 contestant Nicole Michalik revealed to The A.V. Club in 2013 that participants were allegedly paid “$100 a day” while appearing on the show.
“After the fact, I did find out that two of the guys on my seasons negotiated for higher stipends, because they had families and they were the providers, but for me, that was awesome,” she explained. “I didn’t spend any money at all. I paid off my credit card bill. [The stipend] could be more now. I’m not really sure.”
In season 18, all contestants also went home with year-long memberships to Planet Fitness, as well as access to a personal nutritionist and local support groups to continue their weight loss journeys.
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