Just like its original series, Squid Game: The Challenge had the winning cash prize of $4.56 million. Each of the 456 players had that one goal from the very start, but only one was able to win. In case you missed the finale of the show, Mai Whelan turned out to be the winner. Congratulations to her! Well, she deserved it. Surprisingly, Netflix didn’t pay her the money even after 10 long months.
Before getting into more details, let’s learn who Mai Whelan is. Yes, we are talking about player 287 of Squid Game: The Challenge. At the age of 8, she left Vietnam. She is now 55 years old. In Episode 6, during the Marbles challenge, Mai went against Jada. That was the time when she broke down, sharing that her family didn’t trust her decisions.
Mai became a single parent at 19. She arrived in the United States as a refugee. She was previously in the military. Now, she shared how happy she feels being with her husband, relaxing at home, and also has a couple of pets. Mai is now an immigration adjudicator.
Mai Whelan admitted to no change in herself. She is still the same person, being on the show and even after that. However, she has now become “stronger.” Concerning her Squid Game journey, she said, “Every day was fear for me- fear of getting eliminated, or fear of getting picked on. It was a real fear coming from deep inside me.”
Winner Mai Whelan And Her Squid Game Cash Prize: What Are Her Plans To Do With The Money?
It was in February 2023 that Mai Whelan won the Squid Game: The Challenge and eventually the $4.56 million cash prize. Yes, the filming was done at that time. Unfortunately, 10 months have passed, and she has yet to receive the money. What happened?
Recently, during an interview, Mai Whelan said, “I feel like Tom Cruise in Jerry McGuire. Show me the money.” She also shared her plans once she received $4.56 million. Well, she already opened up about post-win indulgences, mainly for the gala event of the series. It included a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes, a short haircut, and a black Ralph Lauren dress.
What are her plans? She added, “I still have buyer’s remorse from that, but I think it’s well deserved.” Well, $4.56 million is a lot to deal with. It is enough to change one’s life. With that, Mai will also look for a retirement home somewhere. She has not yet decided on the location, though. One more thing, she is willing to donate a portion to “charities for the underprivileged, wildlife, and climate change.”
Mai Whelan shared a good bond with the competitors. It was not bad in an ugly way. But, based on the contract, the winner isn’t allowed to share the prize money with any of the other competitors. Following that, Mai isn’t allowed to do so.
From the very start, Mai Whelan was aware of the payment plan of Squid Game: The Challenge. As the show has now ended its airing, she is ready to receive the money she has been waiting for so long.
Well, this delay also calls for the discussion of the alleged lawsuit filing against Netflix, when two competitors of Squid Game: The Challenge sought compensation. That was mainly because of the injuries while shooting the series.
Concerning the cash prize, several reports state that because of the US tax, it might be reduced to $2.8 million. It’s not yet confirmed, though.
Whatever it is, it feels good to see Mai Whelan getting crowned as the winner of the Season 1 of the game series. She undoubtedly played well. How happy are you?
All the episodes of Squid Game: The Challenge are streaming on Netflix. Make sure you have purchased the subscription.
