His one splurge was a Porsche - which he totaled - and he gave the rest of his money to his father, a financial advisor, to invest. “It’s really nice not to have to do that,” he told AOL in 2010. What he did with the prize money: Rutter is an aspiring actor, so he was able to use his winnings to pursue his dreams without having to take up shifts at a restaurant or bar. He is the biggest all-time winner on the quiz show.

“I’m glad I didn’t blow it on a sports car.” Brad Rutter: Won $4.69 Million on 'Jeopardy!'īrad Rutter appeared on “Jeopardy!” several times between 20, and won a total of $4.69 million. “After about a year or so, we finally dusted off the money and used it towards a down payment on the home we live in today,” she said. I was engaged at the time and relatively early in my career, so it was my first time taking six people out to dinner at a nice restaurant - and I was feeling very proud to treat them! The other indulgence was tickets for me and my fiancé to see the hottest theater play at the time, ‘Book of Mormon.’ After that, I let the $40K sit in a savings account.”Īkhtari got married after winning on the show, and she and her fiancé stuck to the original budget they had set for their wedding and honeymoon.

“First, I treated my family to dinner immediately after the episode taping. What she did with the prize money: “I allowed myself two indulgences,” said Akhtari. The winnings included a trip to Hawaii and about $40,000 in cash after taxes. Melody Akhtari, a Los Angeles-based director of marketing in her 30s, won $68,000 worth of cash and prizes on “Wheel of Fortune” in 2014. Melody Akhtari: Won $68,000 on 'Wheel of Fortune' Read on to see what these 23 game show contestants did with their major cash prizes. Despite the potential drawbacks, it can still pay off to win big. That can mean a high tax bill that winners often aren’t prepared for. Others have saved or invested their windfalls.īut contestants are also typically responsible for paying taxes on whatever they win. Some of the biggest game show winners have used their funds to quit their jobs, travel the world, treat their friends and family, or buy new cars. Winning thousands - or millions - of dollars on a game show can change your life.

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