In the opulent realm of televised game shows, MrBeast‘s ‘Beast Games‘ was a titan with one of the largest cash prizes in reality TV history.
The idea, based on Netflix‘s hit Squid Game, requires contestants to fight through a gauntlet of tests of the mind and body, which gets progressively crueler.
A swath of eager contestants came out to try their luck, outsmart the others, and outlast them to win the life-changing jackpot of $10 million.
When the show debuted on Amazon Prime in December, audiences witnessed sound strategy and endurance, with some high stakes at the finale that would have left everyone on the edge of their seats.
But just as the dust settled, the winner, Jeffrey Randall Allen, was in for a shock for most fans. After choosing the right briefcase and getting the grand prize, Allen quickly found out that almost half of his winnings would go to the IRS, a discovery that caused a torrent of responses on social media and amongst the fan forums.
The discourse was responded to by none other than MrBeast himself with an equally poignant response on Twitter. He used a crying face emoji to underline the fact that Allen still received a substantial remainder, all while deducting a huge amount of taxes.
The followers of the show reacted to this comment ranging from humor to indignation.
Some fans humorously suggested that the IRS was actually the winner of the ‘Beast Games, ‘ while others expressed more mixed feelings. Some others complain about the large tax cut and fault the tax system for reducing what was once a great big prize.
While these discussions focused on the financial realities of winning such vast sums in public spectacles, the broader implications can be recognised.
The show itself did not lose its sheen in the midst of the debate, as people were still dazzled by its intricate challenges.
The contestants were put through increasingly difficult tasks on each episode, not only to entertain but also to see if they had the mental mettle to complete them.
The final twist of the narrative was shown in a gripping finale of the “Beast Games”.
The goal changed from just who was going to win, to how many of those jackpots they would actually end up taking home, all brought to reality by the field of taxes.
The winner of the “Beast Games” was Jeffrey Randall Allen in the end. However, the audience was shocked and thoughtful upon learning that he would only receive $5.03 million of the $10 million prize because of tax obligations.
That, however, is the bitter-sweet reality of such televised competitions, which always come with the spectacle of victory but the practicalities of financial regulations.
The twist kept viewers on their screens until the last minute, but it also created a broader discussion on the nature of prize money and taxation.
The incident was a clear reminder that, in the glistening world of game shows, not all that glistens is gold, once the man’s tax bill is calculated.
