American Ninja Warrior (ANW) is among the most successful reality TV shows in the United States with its 16th edition ready to air on NBC this year. The winner of the ANW takes a hefty bag of cash but broadcasters never explain the prize pool to its viewers. So, we are taking the responsibility to explain the American Ninja Warrior prize money and how much the winner takes home.
Despite having a lengthy history from the inception of the show in 2009, there have been only a few men who were able to claim the prize pool. Last year, Vance Walker won the American Ninja Warrior and took home a dream amount. We have also explained how much money did he get to complete the toughest course.
Contents
- 1 How Much is the American Ninja Warrior Prize Money?
- 2 American Ninja Warrior Winners’ Earnings:
- 3 Final Thoughts:
- 4 Frequently Asked Questions:
- 4.0.1 How much do you get paid for American Ninja Warrior?:
- 4.0.2 Does American Ninja Warrior have a prize for runner-ups?:
- 4.0.3 Has anyone won $1 million on American Ninja Warrior?:
- 4.0.4 What is the prize for winning American Ninja Warrior Junior?:
- 4.0.5 Has anyone won American Ninja Warrior more than once?:
How Much is the American Ninja Warrior Prize Money?
The American Ninja Warrior is a coveted sports entertainment reality show inspired by the Japanese reality show Sasuke. It features a set of obstacle courses spanned across several cities with numerous competitors trying to complete them for the mega prize.
The winner of the American Ninja Warrior is the person who finishes all the obstacle courses in the fastest time and takes home the cash prize of $1,000,000 (US$1 million). This is the only major prize money that the competitors fight for during the entire run of a season.
From the beginning of its 10th Season, American Ninja Warrior has also included a consolatory prize worth $100,000 for the person who goes the farthest and the fastest in the Finals course. Before that, if the contenders failed to complete the final challenge, no one would win the cash prize.
American Ninja Warrior Prize Pool Breakdown:
The American Ninja Warrior has a slightly complicated prize pool and there is no fixed money that winners will take home every season. Interestingly, there have been 15 seasons of the show with the 16th one slated to take place in June 2024 but there are only 3 winners so far who have claimed the $1 million prize money.
Here is a breakdown of the American Ninja Warrior prize pool:
- American Ninja Warrior Winner: $1 Million
- Runner-Up: $0
- Third-Place- $0
- ANW Last Ninja Standing: $100,000
- ANW Mega Wall Challenge Winner (Finals): $10,000
- ANW Regional Qualifiers Mega Wall Climber in 1st Attempt: $10,000
- ANW Mega Wall Climber in 2 Attempts: $5,000
- ANW Mega Wall Climber in 3 Attempts: $2,500
Furthermore, the American Ninja Warrior contestants who complete the regional qualifiers and move to the Semi-Finals get paid their traveling and hotel expenses and a sum of $750. Apart from this, ANW contestants are not paid simply for participating in the show.
Note: From Season 8 to Season 10, the American Ninja Warrior introduced a new rule that split the $1 million prize money amongst contestants who completed the final challenge. However, the rule was quietly withdrawn at the beginning of Season 11.
American Ninja Warrior Prize Money Throughout the Years:
The prize money of the American Ninja Warrior has grown significantly over the years. The first-ever season of the American reality TV show didn’t have any prize money for the winners while the second season had only $250,000 for the winner and then the cash prize went up to half a million in the third season.
Here is the American Ninja Warrior prize money over the years:
| Season | Year | Winner’s Prize (Total Victory) | Last Ninja Standing Prize | Finals Venue | Cash Winner |
| 1 | 2009 | None | None | Japan | None |
| 2 | 2010 | $250,000 | None | Japan | None |
| 3 | 2011 | $500,000 | None | Japan | None |
| 4 | 2012 | $500,000 | None | Las Vegas | None |
| 5 | 2013 | $500,000 | None | Las Vegas | None |
| 6 | 2014 | $500,000 | None | Las Vegas | None |
| 7 | 2015 | $1,000,000 | None | Las Vegas | Isaac Caldiero |
| 8 | 2016 | $1,000,000 | None | Las Vegas | None |
| 9 | 2017 | $1,000,000 | None | Las Vegas | None |
| 10 | 2018 | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | Las Vegas | None |
| 11 | 2019 | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | Las Vegas | Drew Drechsel |
| 12 | 2020 | $100,000 | None | St. Louis | None |
| 13 | 2021 | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | Las Vegas | None |
| 14 | 2022 | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | Las Vegas | None |
| 15 | 2023 | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | Las Vegas | Vance Walker |
| 16 | 2024 | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | Las Vegas | TBA |
In 2020, the American Ninja Warrior was shot inside a closed studio in St. Louis instead of the traditional venue in Las Vegas. So, the prize money was also lower due to the decreased level of difficulty.
American Ninja Warrior Winners’ Earnings:
In the 15-year history of the American Ninja Warrior, only three men have successfully claimed the $1 million cash prize. These include Isaac Caldiero, Drew Drechsel, and Vance Walker. Apart from these, only two other men- Geoff Britten and Daniel Gil have completed the final challenge and achieved ‘Total Victory.’
Britten finished as the runner-up of Season 7 which Isaac Caldiero won but he didn’t get any prize money. This triggered a widespread controversy which led to the American Ninja Warrior introducing a new rule which led to the prize money being split among all contestants who completed the final challenge.
However, the rule was withdrawn after Season 10 as the show moved back to its original format of the fastest contestant to complete the final challenge taking the entire sum of $1 million. Daniel Gil is another unlucky winner who finished second in Season 11 but didn’t win any money as Drew Drechsel was the winner. Although he won the Power Tower Playoff in 2020 and bagged a sum of $100,000.
1. Isaac Caldiero:
Isaac Caldiero is the first conqueror of ‘Mount Midoriyama’ to win the lucrative cash prize. He successfully completed all the obstacles in the Season 7 finale (2015) of American Ninja Warrior and became the first person to take home the $1 million prize money.
Caldiero is a former busboy and professional rock climber from Orem, Utah. He rose to fame after winning the ANW Season 7 and became a national celebrity. He also competed in Seasons 5, 6, and 10 of the famous reality television series but failed to replicate his heroics.
2. Drew Drechsel:
Drew Drechsel is the second person ever to win the $1 million cash prize as he won the American Ninja Warrior Season 11 (2019). He also took home the $100,000 after being declared the ‘Last Ninja Standing’. The Florida-based athlete bagged a total of $1.1 million.
However, Drew Drechsel was charged with several child sex offenses and he has pleaded guilty to two felonies. This has tarnished his legacy and the NBC has cut all ties with him. The broadcasters have even edited out the footage featuring Drechsel from all the seasons where he competed.
3. Vance Walker:
Vance Walker is the latest and youngest winner of the $1 million prize money of the American Ninja Warrior after winning the Season 15 finale (2023). He also took home the cash prize of $100,000 for being the ‘Last Ninja Standing’ and won another $10,000 for conquering the 18.5-foot tall Mega Wall.
Walker, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of 18 months and battled through the disease, claimed a total of $1.11 million. He is also a two-time winner of American Ninja Warrior Junior which helped him earn another $15,000 in prize money.
Final Thoughts:
American Ninja Warrior is ready to be renewed for another exciting season this year with numerous contestants competing for the dreamy prize money worth $1 million. It’s highly unjust that only the fastest person to complete the dreadful obstacle course gets to win the cash prize.
There should be guaranteed prize money for every person who finishes the challenging obstacle course. Numerous calls have been made for NBC to introduce prizes for runner-ups but they haven’t been answered. It shouldn’t be a problem for the broadcasters as the reality show is proven to be immensely successful.
Let’s hope some changes are made for the betterment of the passionate athletes who dedicate their lives to preparing for the thrilling reality television show. What do you think? Sound off in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the American Ninja Warrior prize money:
How much do you get paid for American Ninja Warrior?:
American Ninja Warrior doesn’t have a fixed amount that is paid for participating in the reality TV show. There is only a $1 million prize money that the winner (contestant who finishes the entire obstacle course including the ‘Final Climb’ in the fastest time) takes home. Additionally, there are some mini prizes such as $100,000 for ‘Last Ninja Standing’ and $10,000 for conquering the ‘Mega Wall’.
Does American Ninja Warrior have a prize for runner-ups?:
No, there is no prize money for runner-ups in the American Ninja Warrior and only the winner of the entire obstacle course/season takes home the $1 million prize money. Geoff Britten and Daniel Gil are the two unlucky runner-ups who didn’t receive any prize money despite completing the final challenge.
Has anyone won $1 million on American Ninja Warrior?:
Only three men have won the prize money of $1 million in the 15-year history of the American Ninja Warrior. Isaac Caldiero became the first contestant to win the massive cash prize after completing the obstacle course in 2015. Drew Drechsel (2019) and Vance Walker (2023) are the other two contestants to win the $1 million prize.
What is the prize for winning American Ninja Warrior Junior?:
The American Ninja Warrior Junior has $15,000 prize money for the champion, $7,500 for the runner-up, and $5,000 for the third-place finisher.
Has anyone won American Ninja Warrior more than once?:
No one has won the American Ninja Warrior more than once and there are only three men who have claimed the $1 million prize money in the 15-year history of the reality TV show. However, there are multiple men who have made it to the Finals and even Stage 4 more than once.
Santhan, known to many as Linda, combines her personal training expertise with exceptional motivational coaching skills. Her articles are not just informative but also incredibly inspiring, encouraging readers to take action and pursue their fitness goals. Linda’s unique approach to writing integrates practical fitness guidance with motivational elements, making her content both useful and uplifting.