{"id":65557,"date":"2026-10-28T15:45:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T15:45:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/realityshrine\/?p=65557"},"modified":"2026-10-28T15:45:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T15:45:22","slug":"why-the-challenge-cutthroat-winners-wont-keep-all-the-prize-money-thanks-to-a-whopping-tax-hit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/realityshrine\/2026\/10\/28\/why-the-challenge-cutthroat-winners-wont-keep-all-the-prize-money-thanks-to-a-whopping-tax-hit\/","title":{"rendered":"Why The Challenge: Cutthroat winners won\u2019t keep all the prize money, thanks to a whopping tax hit"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Orange Team members Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, Chris “CT” Tamburello, Tori Deal, Michele Fitzgerald and Will Gagnon just won The Challenge: Cutthroat season 42<\/a>, but they won’t be taking home all of their promised prize money.<\/p>\n

Collectively, they won $500,000, which split between the five winners, is $100,000 each. But they won’t be taking home $100,000.<\/p>\n

After taxes, they’ll likely only take home around $70,000, losing about $30,000 to state and federal taxes. This is just an estimate, as taxes vary depending on your salary and home state.<\/p>\n

CT is based in Massachusetts, with state taxes taking out around $5,000 and federal taxes taking out a whopping $32,000. So he’ll only be walking away with $63,000.<\/p>\n

Bananas is similar, likely walking away with only $60,000. So the two biggest names in the group, and the richest<\/a>, cash in the smallest cheques.<\/p>\n

Tori, Michele, and Will will take home a slightly bigger chunk, most likely around $70,000 to $75,000. But once again, this all depends on their other income and home state.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by The Challenge (@thechallenge)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n