Squid Game: The Challenge player reveals how much they earned to appear on show
Final victor of Netflix’s hit game show will be unveiled on Wednesday
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Squid Game: The Challenge player 352, Radhika, has revealed how much she was paid for appearing on the reality show based on Netflix’s 2021 South Korean dystopian drama.
The 27-year-old engineer and business owner from the UK was one of 456 contestants who competed in a series of gruelling mental and physical challenges for the chance to win $4.56m (£3.55m), the largest lump-sum jackpot in reality TV history.
When asked on TikTok how much money she earned for her time on the show, Radhika answered: “Zero. Zero GBP, zero USD, zero rupees, zero Yuan, zero Pesos. Zero. Literally zero!
“It was all or nothing, and we were really in there acting like that for nothing because the stakes were so high,” she said in the recently posted video.
She did confirm, however, that the production covered all transportation costs for the participants, including international flights to London, where the majority of the show was filmed across 16 days.
“I don’t live too far from London, but they organised a taxi, a train, and literally anthing you can need for getting to the location, and also getting back home,” she continued.
“So yeah, we went in there with the clothes they gave us, [and] a bum bag full of toiletries,” Radhika added, “and we left with group trauma.”
Clarifying that she was just joking, she said: “We left with so many crazy, extreme, abstract memories. I think that’s the best way to put it. But it was such a wild experience, and I would not take it back for the world. And would I do it again for free? 100 per cent.”
In a separate TikTok video posted by player 243, Stephen, he revealed that some contestants were prematurely “booted from” the show after they broke the rules by “hooking up”.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Last week, player 301, Trey, revealed that several contestants used lubricated condoms to try and soothe their chapped lips.
The season finale, which will be released on Netflix on Wednesday, 6 December at 9pm EST/6pm PST, will see the three finalists: Mai (287), Phil (451)and Sam (016), face off in a grand finale event.
Read here to find out everything there is to know about the final three.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments