Mai Whelan, winner of 'Squid Game: The Challenge' season 1, reveals that she is still waiting for the coveted grand prize 10 months after the 55-year-old immigration adjudicator's win.
- Dec 9, 2023
AceShowbiz - Mai Whelan, winner of "Squid Game: The Challenge" season 1, has yet to receive her historic $4.56 million prize. The 55-year-old immigration adjudicator reveals that she hasn't got the money 10 months after her win.
"I feel like Tom Cruise in 'Jerry Maguire'," Mai, who beat 455 other players on the "Squid Game"-based game show, shared with The Times. "Show me the money!"
Of the delay, a source close to production told PEOPLE that contestants knew about the payment plan. Winner is set to receive the prize fund now that the show's season 1 finale has aired.
In her new interview, Mai also shared that she already spent some of her expected prize on a look transformation for the "Squid Game" gala. Her new look included a short haircut, Ralph Lauren dress and Jimmy Choo shoes. "I still have buyer's remorse from that, but I think it's well-deserved," she said.
She went on to share that she hoped to find "a retirement home somewhere," adding, "We don't know where yet, and we are happy with where we are. We live on the water. It's very peaceful."
However, the Virginia native said she's not only planning to use the money for herself. "I have charitable causes I wanna contribute more to," she explained, including "sponsoring kids receiving education and helping the elderly with their basic needs and health care. And also the wildlife and the climate."
"I think those are very important to how we see the world so that way we can live in it and enjoy it for everybody, not just us at the present moment," she divulged.
Mai previously shared that her victory rendered her speechless. "I don't know whether to cry or to cheer. I don't know what to do," she told fellow finalist Phil after winning a final game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.
"Today just validates that anything is possible. Even when [you] feel down and afraid, you have to pick yourself up, be a strong person and focus," she said in a confessional interview. "Whatever you fear is, fight it with everything you got, and you can accomplish anything. And I've proven that tonight. I am the winner."
