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What does ‘The Masked Singer’ winner really get? Season 14 champion's prize will surprise you

‘The Masked Singer’ 14 finally revealed its champion, but the real surprise isn’t who won, it’s what the winner actually gets once the mask comes off.

This story contains spoilers.

Winning a show like ‘The Masked Singer’ is never a walk in the park, and Season 14 made that crystal clear. Beneath layers of glitter, foam, feathers, and mystery, celebrities kept showing up week after week, putting in the work while keeping their identities locked tight. By the time the Season 14 finale rolled around on Wednesday, the competition had narrowed down to four standout performers: Cat Witch, Crane, Pugcasso, and Galaxy Girl. Each one brought something different to the stage, and at that point, it really felt like anyone’s game. Then came the final reveal. Galaxy Girl took the crown. When the mask finally came off, the winner turned out to be Ashlee Simpson. All fans of the reality TV show want to know about the prize money that Simpson received, but here’s where things get a little surprising. 

Unlike many other competition series, winning ‘The Masked Singer’ does not come with a big cash prize. Instead, the champion walks away with something a bit more symbolic: the Golden Mask trophy. Interestingly, the winner does not even get to take the trophy home right away. Amber Riley, who won Season 8, once explained how that works during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. “Here's the thing, you don't get the mask until it's announced that you won,” Riley revealed. “Because, let's say I'm on Instagram Live and I got my Mask trophy chilling in the background, you'll give it away.” That little behind-the-scenes detail makes sense when you think about it. The whole point of the show is secrecy, and even a tiny slip could ruin the surprise.

So, the production keeps a tight lid on things until the episode airs and the winner is officially out in the open. Once everything is public, though, the trophy becomes a personalized keepsake. According to a show representative, each winner receives a Golden Mask engraved with their name, the costume they performed in, and the season they won. A spokesperson also confirmed that contestants do not receive a cash reward for winning. “The celebrity contestants do not receive any monetary prize — just bragging rights!" the rep shared.

That said, participants are not exactly working for free. Those who join the show are given a standard stipend for their time during filming. It is not presented as a prize, though; it is more like compensation for being part of the production. The real incentive, as a show rep puts it, “is the pride and glory of making it through the competition!” Even the runners-up do not walk away with any additional awards. This season, that was Phillip Phillips, who competed as Pugcasso and made it all the way to the finale without taking the top spot. Still, reaching that stage is an achievement in itself, considering how competitive the lineup tends to be.