Retired Army Veteran Achieves Record Win on “The Price Is Right”
During a recent Mother’s Day episode, retired Army veteran Vanesa McCaskell made history by winning the largest single-game payout ever on “The Price Is Right.” The thrilling moment featured her daughter cheering from the audience, as McCaskell, hailing from Virginia, claimed a staggering $227,500 in cash along with a vacation to Morocco valued at $12,650, bringing her total winnings to $240,150, as reported by Variety.
McCaskell made some daring choices, notably in the high-stakes game “The Lion’s Share,” where players can gamble their entire earnings for a shot at a larger prize. Her bold strategy ultimately paid off, leaving her visibly stunned. The episode’s footage is available for viewing on CBS6.
Initially, McCaskell garnered $2,500 in the first round, quickly escalating to $25,000. In the third round, her excitement grew as she secured $100,000, prompting enthusiastic shouts from her.
At a critical point, with $127,500 already won and only two balls left, she made a pivotal decision to push forward. She shared with host Drew Carey, “The last two numbers are my daughter’s birthday. I have to go.”
With a heartfelt shout out to her daughter, she exclaimed, “For you, baby!” before continuing her risk-taking strategy. Moments later, another $100,000 was added to her winnings, but she wasn’t finished yet.
Carey noted, “Vanesa, we’re almost up to a quarter-million dollars. One more ball to go.” To which she replied, “I have to believe,” leading to her eventual win of the Morocco vacation.
Reflecting on her surreal experience, McCaskell said in a statement, “It all felt so surreal — a dream moment that only kept getting bigger.” She admitted to feeling a mix of nerves and excitement throughout the game.
Regarding her life-changing windfall, she mentioned plans to invest wisely, enjoy a bit of her earnings, and treat her mom to a special surprise.
Matt Prevost, BetMGM’s chief revenue officer, noted the significance of McCaskell’s win, stating that their collaboration aimed to enhance the thrill of BetMGM gameplay on “The Price Is Right,” which was clearly realized during her record-breaking moment.
McCaskell’s win stands as the largest in the show’s 54-year history, shattering the previous record of $210,000 set by Christen Freeman in 2016.
