What Does the “America’s Got Talent” Winner Get? All About the Competition Series’ Prize Pot (and Why It’s Not All Paid Out at Once)

NEED TO KNOW

• The season 20 finale of America’s Got Talent aired on Sept. 24

• Singer Jessica Sanchez was crowned the winner

• The America’s Got Talent champion gets money and a chance to headline a show in Las Vegas

Cue the gold confetti!

On Sept. 24, America’s Got Talent came to a thrilling conclusion as the reality competition show crowned its season 20 champion, singer Jessica Sanchez. From dancers to rappers, there were 10 finalists going into the America’s Got Talent finale hoping to walk away with the grand prize.

Celebrity judges Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel and Mel B have been along for the wild ride this season, but the winner was up to the viewers.

“This season is special — I reckon we’re showing about 40% more of the process and everything that goes on behind the scenes, which I find fascinating,” Simon said in a statement shared with PEOPLE in May 2025. “This year, fans will get to see what it’s like to be a contestant: the highs, the nerves, and the emotions. Everything.”

With America’s Got Talent season 20 ending, what did Sanchez receive? Here’s all about the America’s Got Talent grand prize and what the winner walked away with.

What does the winner of America’s Got Talent get?

The winner of America’s Got Talent receives $1,000,000.

However, contestants can choose what to do with the life-changing amount of money. After winning season 19, Richard Goodall, who wowed viewers and the judges with his powerful voice, went back to being a janitor, at least part-time, per NBC. Goodall also performs live, and in August 2025, he released his debut single, as he shared on his Instagram.

Other winners, like Dustin Tavella — the magician who won season 16 — planned on using his money to give back.

“It’s weird — [the prize] is the part I’ve been the least excited about, just because the idea of having a platform to share our stories and connect with people is just amazing,” Tavella told PEOPLE about the money.

Tavella added that the reason he was excited, however, is because he and his wife Kari have “gone through some really hard times financially.

“We used to run a homeless ministry,” he continued. “We’ve just always poured all of our resources and everything that we’ve had out to people. And because of that, we’ve had people pouring into us.”

Tavella added that he wanted to use the money to help support the “people in our lives.”

How is the America’s Got Talent winner paid out?

America’s Got Talent winners can choose to receive their prize money as a cash value sum or be paid out annually.

A disclaimer at the end of each episode reads: “$1,000,000 is payable in a financial annuity over 40 years, or the contestant may choose to receive the present cash value of such annuity” before taxes.

According to a 2016 Forbes report, if winners take the lump sum, they will receive a payout of around $300,000, pre-tax. If they go with the 40-year long annuity option, they will get about $25,000 annually, before taxes.

Does the winner of America’s Got Talent get anything besides money?

Aside from the money, America’s Got Talent winners are also able to roll the dice in the Sin City spotlight. The winner will the chance to headline their own show in Las Vegas, per NBC.

According to The Wrap, season 18 winner Adrian Stoica and his dog Hurricane performed in the headliner slot at America’s Got Talent Presents Superstars Live at the Luxor Hotel and Casino.

Do the America’s Got Talent contestants get paid?

No, America’s Got Talent contestants are not paid for their time on the show. They do not receive “additional compensation, payments, residuals, reuse fees or other payments.”

The contestants don’t get a paycheck, but they are provided other essential services while competing on the show, such as food, living accommodations, travel, transportation and more.

Read the original article on People