What did you do with your Winnings?

[Kevin Prather]

Quite a boring story on my end. I enjoyed having the money in the bank for about 60 seconds, then paid my credit card.

I realize that I have lots of posts for someone who has won $4.95 on a game show, but I do want to make this point: as boring as that may be on an application, it's got to be freeing if you can pay off the trip, buy something for your Plus One/companions and have enough left over to scratch out a debt, and that we're all lying when we say whatever fanciful answer they want to hear.

Amen. It gave my credit score a much needed shot in the arm. And more to the point, it was my first trip to New York, and I made a handful of new friends including a game show champion.

[Strikerz04]

I was on Wheel in 2005, and was only 20 when I won. Since I couldn’t go knee deep with the $9300 (all cash) I won (and I waited until I turned 21), I bought an iPod Classic.


But at the risk of letting family borrow money, I put 2/3 in the bank (CDs and Savings). That way, if I needed money senior year of college, I could use it.


My only regret was not using some of the money to travel (since I never explored the world beyond Chicago)

[Sodboy13]

I won $25,000 on Million Dollar Password. Some of it went toward our wedding, a lot of it went toward our honeymoon along the east coast of Australia, and a little of it went toward a viewing party with friends at a bar. And a smidge of it went toward a Manitoba Moose jersey.

[vtown7]

I did various things with various experiences...

Wheel (1997): The bulk went to pay tuition for university (parents were quite pleased!).  I bought my sister a pair of Rollerblades, I paid my parents back for the cost of the trip they paid upfront, and then I bought a TV/VCR combo.  The balance paid for a trip to the UK to see friends and family (and make a connection with Bother from Bother's Bar!). Turned down all lovely parting gifts save the electronic Tiger game and the box game.

Inside the Box (2006): Paid for a couple of small things and a pool party for friends at the local rec centre.  If I got paid for all of the reruns I'd have a good chunk of change!

Brain Battle (2007): A trip to Newfoundland and a retirement gift for a co-worker.

Countdown (2009): Kept all of my goodie bag gifts (book by Suzie Dent, pen, mini clock, huge OED, mug, shopping bag) plus was given the name plate from my appearance.  Side note: Countdown's the only time I've gotten a picture from the day which I really wish the other shows had done!

Ice Cold Cash (2012): Used cash to buy Olympic tickets at London 2012.

Motus (2013): Gave away my Sodastream to my partner.  Software sits unopened and ancient.  100 Euro gift card for more software required shipping outside of France that I would have to pay for, so I just let it lapse.

Newshounds (2014): Won a CBC Vancouver Pen in the prelim ep and two Kevin O'Leary books in the "champions episode" - don't know where they ended up.

Price is Right (2015): Won a bubble hockey table which the show opted to give me cash for.  Went scuba diving in Curacao on the shows dime on my birthday in January 2017; awesome trip.  Going back this January as well! Got to tell George after a taping this summer what I did with my prize and he was genuinely happy.  I like George a lot.

Let's Make A Deal (2017): Forfeited my pool table due to tax purposes.  Kept beer machine (arrived) and LED boom box (waiting on it).

My personal feeling with game show winnings is that unless it's a massive chunk I tend to treat it as "fun money" and do something really enjoyable with it.

Ryan

[pacdude]

My $6,075 from Wheel of Fortune bought a gently-used Jeep Grand Cherokee and a new laptop.

My $60,000 from the Chase bought me a new bed, recliner, laptop, my wedding and my honeymoon to London.

My $200 from Wowowee bought me pocket money for the rest of that vacation haha

[ivoryman1986]

My $6,075 from Wheel of Fortune bought a gently-used Jeep Grand Cherokee and a new laptop.

My $60,000 from the Chase bought me a new bed, recliner, laptop, my wedding and my honeymoon to London.

My $200 from Wowowee bought me pocket money for the rest of that vacation haha

Hey pacdude, what did you do with the prize you picked on Jep! since you were on that show as well and you uploaded your appearance on Youtube sometime ago. If you plan to upload your Jep! appearance again, you should upload it to Dailymotion instead.

[pacdude]

My $6,075 from Wheel of Fortune bought a gently-used Jeep Grand Cherokee and a new laptop.

My $60,000 from the Chase bought me a new bed, recliner, laptop, my wedding and my honeymoon to London.

My $200 from Wowowee bought me pocket money for the rest of that vacation haha

Hey pacdude, what did you do with the prize you picked on Jep! since you were on that show as well and you uploaded your appearance on Youtube sometime ago. If you plan to upload your Jep! appearance again, you should upload it to Dailymotion instead.

I won a Light Wars electronic game and a Discman. Both are lost to the sands of commercialism.