Viewers were gripped when Mai Whelan won Squid Game: The Challenge last year, but the star has only just received her prize money, according to People Magazine.
Immigration adjudicator Mai, 55, won a staggering $4.56 million after beating 455 other players in the Netflix series last February.
Sources told TMZ that contestants signed a contract agreeing that the winner would only get their hands on the jackpot 30 days after the finale premiered.
‘Our contracts stated that the winner would receive the money – 30 days after the finale’, Sam Kohn, who was player 188 on the show, also tweeted.
However, the season one finale aired on December 6, meaning Mai was expected to have pocketed her winnings earlier this month.
The reality television show, which showed players battle it out in a series of taxing trials, was controversially renewed for a second season.
Viewers were gripped when Mai Whelan won Squid Game : The Challenge last year, but the star has only just received her prize money
Mai was ruthless in her victory which has seen her rake in a whopping $4.56 million
The game show based on Netflix’s hit show debuted on November 22 (pictures from Squid Game: The Challenge)
The reality competition show featured a whopping 456 competitors (pictured from Squid Game: The Challenge)
What will Mai do with the money?
Mai, who shared her dramatic story of escaping the communist regime in her homeland after the fall of Saigon, plans to spend her jackpot responsibly – on a retirement home, and donating to charity.
In the widely-panned finale, Whelan triumphed over scuba instructor Phill Cain, 27, after multiple rounds of rock, paper, scissor.
The final shot of the entire series followed Mai walking up to an ATM and checking her balance to see $4.56m waiting for her.
It is still unclear whether she received the money as a lump sum or in increments.
Mai told The Times she splashed out on a fancy hairdo, Ralph Lauren dress and Jimmy Choo shoes for a recent Netflix event.
‘I still have buyer’s remorse from that, but I think it’s well deserved’, she said.
What did she have to do to win?
Netflix described the spin-off as ‘inspired’ by the original, but also welcomed a whole host of new surprising additions for the show last winter.
Similar challenges already seen in Squid Game featured on the show, such as the infamous Red Light, Green Light, Sugar Honeycombs and Hopscotch games.
Contestants also battled it out for the jackpot by forming alliances and were strategic in a game of survival as fellow competitors dropped off like flies.
But contestants did not put their actual lives on the line to win the $4.56 million prize – although with such a huge sum of money up for grabs, it would make sense if so.
The show hosted 456 on the new reality TV competition based on the hit Netflix show – Squid Game. The competitors battled it out for a whopping $4.56 million
Some challenges from the original show made an appearance last winter, including Red Light, Green Light, Sugar Honeycombs and Hopscotch
Contestants complain about conditions
Ten episodes of the show appeared on Netflix, with its first titled Red Light, Green Light, signalling a huge hint to fans on what was to come.
During each round and episode, competitors were funnelled into a game hall through a spiralling, multi-coloured hallway while being watched by guards in pink jumpsuits with shapes that covered their faces.
Three unidentified competitors also spoke out against the show, with claims that they were made to film in zero degree weather, according to Variety.
They stressed that they had not signed up for a Bear Grylls or Naked and Afraid type show and were shocked by filming conditions.
Describing playing Red Light Green Light for six hours, one contestant said: ‘This isn’t a game.
‘The fun is now gone. You can’t tell people they have to stand in below freezing temperatures in just a tracksuit and two pairs of socks’.
A second alleged that conditions were ‘absolutely inhumane’ elaborating that four individuals had passed out during the game’s second round.
The claimant said they could see one girl faint, hearing her head hit the floor, adding: ‘But then someone came on the [microphone] and said to hold our positions because the game is not paused. After that, people were dropping like flies’.
The infamous Red Light, Green Light was filmed for a reported six hours, with some contestants hitting out at the show for poor filming conditions
One competitor came forward with claims that the conditions were ‘absolutely inhumane’, alleging four people fainted during the games’ second round
Endless list of controversies
The list of controversies regarding the Netflix show did not end with the alleged treatment of contestants either.
Fans were quick to point out that the streaming giant was quick to hand out the $4.5 million prize fresh off the back of the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild strikes.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter one wrote: ‘I don’t know how tone deaf you have to be to create this, it’s insurmountable. Capitalism at its finest.
‘Also, this is what you pour all your money into instead of properly paying staff? Lol’.
Previous accusations had also been levied against Netflix for not paying the Squid Game series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk residuals, despite the show being among the highest-earning on the platform.
Another chimed in: ‘The creator of squid game not being paid adequately while Netflix continues to profit from it while also missing the whole point of the show.
‘How anyone can look forward to watching this is crazy’.
Others were disheartened that Netflix had not released a sequel to the original Squid Game, with one writing: ‘We need season 2 of real Squid Game. Please’.
People were quick to bash the show branding it as ‘ignorant’ and ‘tone deaf’
Tone deaf: Some pointed how previous accusations had also been levied against Netflix for not paying the Squid Game series creator – Hwang Dong-hyuk – residuals
‘And yet, what we actually asked for was a second season, not a game show’, a second commented.
However some fans slammed Netflix as ‘ignorant’ and ‘tone deaf’ for bringing the fictional show to life.
‘I see you completely missed the point of the series. Good job,’ one quipped.
A second penned: ‘The fact this even exists proves they didn’t understand the point of the actual show – it’s going to be so disappointing how popular this will likely be’.
‘Making a reality game show based a show that critiques capitalism is still super cringe,’ another jabbed.
‘I hate that this exists,’ wrote one user: ‘Squid Game’s entire premise was a satire of greed, class warfare and exploitation of the working class. So naturally a large corporate entity like Netflix just saw dollar signs $$’.
Squid Game: The Challenge aired on Netflix on November 22, 2023.
Other fans were not happy that the streaming giant handed out the $4.5 million prize fresh off the back of the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild strikes
Other viewers labelled the show as ‘cringe’, stating that they ‘hated’ that it exists
