How much do ‘Amazing Race’ contestants get paid? You’ll be amazed as Season 38 finally names its winner
CBS' 'The Amazing Race' Season 38 finally concluded with a bang. The highly anticipated finale witnessed contestants racing around New York City, and following an intense competition, brothers Jasmair 'Jas' Bains and Jagateshwar 'Jag' Bains emerged as the winners. While the show has ended, many fans are left wondering about the paycheck of the contestants.
Since 'The Amazing Race' began in 2001, winners have always been awarded a $1 million prize but they don't get the full amount because it's taxed. The Undergraduate director of North Carolina State University's Department of Accounting, Roby Sawyers explained to The News & Observer, "They most certainly will not keep the whole million dollars."
Sawyers further explained, "They most certainly will not keep the whole million dollars," noting that the prize is treated as income. He added, "If you look at the $1 million earnings like it's the only income they have, my calculation has $300,000 taken out in federal taxes, 30%," and depending on the winner's state, "roughly $400,000 of the $1 million payout goes to state and federal taxes."
Although the $1 million winners aren't known until the finale, contestants can win vacations, cars, and other prizes during the season. Season 21 contestant Mark 'Abba' Abbattista explained that the prizes on 'The Amazing Race' aren't completely "free." He told the AV Club, "So if the trip is worth $10,000, guess what? You owe Uncle Sam $3,500. And they're not all-inclusive. Your air is paid for, and your hotel, and they include some other things, like massages or a snorkel trip, but all the food is not included."
He further added, "So you're spending money and going to places that you're not necessarily interested in." He added, "I don't know if a lot of people ever use the trip or not, because it is an expense and not everyone has the resources to do that. It sounds good in theory, but I think a fair amount of them don't get used." Talking about the finale of the Season 38, Phil Keoghan met the Final 3 teams in New York City, where Jag and Jas, Kyland and Taylor, and Joseph and Adam raced to the Empire State Building.
Izzy and Paige had been eliminated in the French leg. The finalists began by rappelling over 1,200 feet from the 103rd to the 90th floor, with Jag and Jas arriving first, followed closely by Taylor and Kyland, while Adam successfully completed the daunting task, as per TV Line. At the final Pit Stop in New York City, Jag and Jas arrived first, winning Season 38 of 'The Amazing Race' and the $1 million prize. Kyland and Taylor finished second, while Joseph and Adam came in third.
