Was Beast Games Winner Ripped Off By 'Only' Getting Half Of The Total Prize? MrBeast Responds

MrBeast's Beast Games ended with a dramatic finale, crowning Jeff Allen (Player 831) as the ultimate winner. He outlasted 1,000 contestants, pushed through gruelling physical and mental challenges, and walked away with what was touted as a £7.94 million ($10 million) grand prize. But the celebrations quickly turned sour when fans realised that Allen wouldn't be taking home the full amount.

A significant chunk of his winnings was swallowed by taxes, cutting his final payout nearly in half. Outraged fans accused MrBeast of misleading promotion, arguing that the advertised sum didn't come with a clear disclaimer about deductions. Others argued that Allen was still walking away with a life-changing sum, even after the tax hit. As the debate raged online, MrBeast's response was as blunt as it was dismissive—he simply wrote: 'Only.'

Beast Games Champion Faces Unexpected Tax Burden

Jeff Allen fought tooth and nail to claim victory, enduring high-stakes trials that tested his resilience at every turn. But while he conquered Beast Games, he couldn't escape the taxman. Despite being announced as the recipient of a £7.94 million ($10 million) jackpot, Allen's actual payout was slashed to just under £3.97 million ($5 million) due to taxes imposed by the IRS and California state authorities.

Tax Cuts Slash the Beast Games Jackpot

According to Watcher.Guru, Allen's take-home sum was reduced by hefty deductions, pushing him into the highest federal tax bracket. Unlike lottery winnings, which often have automatic federal deductions, game show prizes are considered taxable income, meaning winners must foot the bill themselves. Here's the estimated tax breakdown:

• Total Prize Amount: £7.94 million ($10,000,000)
• Federal Tax (37%): ≈ £2.94 million ($3.7 million)
• California State Tax (13.3%): ≈ £1.05 million ($1.33 million)
• Total Tax Deduction: ≈ £3.97 million ($4.97 million)
• Final Take-Home Prize: ≈ £3.97 million ($5.03 million)

Despite securing one of the largest cash prizes in game show history, Allen was left with just half of the advertised jackpot.

MrBeast Reacts to Prize Tax Debate

The internet erupted when fans crunched the numbers and realised Allen's payout wasn't as grand as it seemed. One X user pointed out that Beast Games winnings are treated like earned income under U.S. tax law, sparking claims that MrBeast had misrepresented the actual prize amount.

MrBeast, however, wasn't fazed. In response to the uproar, he posted a single-word reply: 'Only.' His comment was widely interpreted as a reminder that even after taxes, Allen was still walking away with an astronomical sum—just not quite the one advertised.

For his part, Allen didn't seem too troubled by the deductions. Speaking to The Columbus Dispatch, he said: 'I feel like I've already won because I got to talk about Lucas's condition... anything on top of that is just gravy.'

Beast Games Awards Record-Breaking Payouts

Despite the controversy, Beast Games shattered records for prize money, with over £19.8 million ($25 million) awarded across multiple contestants. Beyond the grand prize, several other players scored substantial rewards:

• Player 952: Won a private island.
• Player 974: Took a strategic exit for £794,000 ($1 million).
• Three contestants: Secured £79,400 ($100,000) each.
• Five participants: Walked away with £63,500 ($80,000) each.
• Six players: Claimed £39,700 ($50,000) each.
• Numerous additional cash prizes ranged from £1,600 ($2,000) to £15,300 ($19,231).

With its jaw-dropping rewards, Beast Gamescemented itself as the biggest game show prize in entertainment history. However, it also reignited heated discussions about taxation, prize money transparency, and whether winners should expect to take home the full advertised sum.

While some fans continue to argue that Allen was 'ripped off,' one fact remains: he still walked away with millions—just not as many as promised.