Reality TV Show Prizes that We'd Have to Win at All Costs

2025 was the year that finally took reality tv show prizes to the next level. For this article we removed conventional game show prizes and focused more heavily on Reality TV. We wanted to look at the biggest prizes - ones that would make us compete harder and see if we would have stood a chance through not only the competition, but other aspects. Let's see what those prizes are and are chances of taking it home if we were invited.

Beast Games

While it wasn't originally planned to be the largest prize in reality tv history - Beast Games quickly got there - by more than doubling the #2 spot! After the prize kept growing due to contestants risking their spots to increase the prize amounts, Beast Games quickly grew to a 10 million dollar prize. Mr. Beast didn't disappoint either - with a single winner eventually taking home the prize. Other contestants didn't leave too sad either, with contestants taking home millions on the side.

Winner Odds (Statistical): Purely by numbers, any given player had a 1 in 1000 chance of winning (~0.1%). One winner out of a thousand players is exceedingly steep odds – an average contestant faces far less than a one-percent chance.

Squid Game: The Challenge

Of over 80,000 applicants the Squid Gamed theme reality competition was ripe for backstabbing and challenges that tested mental will. The competition offered a huge $4.56 million prize that went to one single individual in the end. From tug-of-war to the infamous red light, green light - the show mirrored the expected outcome of Squid Games with just one survivor in the end.

Winner Odds (Statistical): Each of the 456 contestants has a 1 in 456 chance on paper (~0.22%). These are poor odds for any individual – worse than on most smaller-cast shows – though better than Beast Games simply because the field is about half the size.

Survivor

Whether you're built for endurance, strength, or intelligence your best attributes need to be hidden to win the $1 million survivor prize. Strengths and weaknesses both can be used against you in tribal voting councils, where you'll need to think long term to make it far. While the prize isn't the largest among the group, it does give you some of the best odds due to the low player count.

Winner Odds (Statistical): Once on Survivor, each player has about 1 in 18 odds (~5.5%) if all were equal. In reality, of course, gameplay matters – but numerically that’s the baseline. Over 44 U.S. seasons, winners have ranged from 20-year-olds to 50-year-olds, from physical “challenge beasts” to strategic masterminds.

The Amazing Race

If teaming up and splitting a prize is more in your wheel house the Amazing race offered a similar $1 million prize as teams of two raced across the world. You also have the best odds of the bunch, albeit being forced to split the money with your teammate. Mental and physical capabilities don't need to be hidden in this show, but rather showcased on the path to victory.

Winner Odds (Statistical): With 11 teams at the starting line, a given team has 1 in 11 odds (~9%) of winning if all teams were equal. In practice, teams with a good balance of physical, mental, and social skills (and some luck with flights and challenges) tend to have higher odds than others. The race is also elimination-based, so avoiding last place each leg is crucial.