American Ninja Warrior season 17 recently premiered, and it finds contestants competing for a $1,000,000 grand prize. The high-octane sports entertainment reality show is based on the Japanese series Sasuke. It has captivated audiences since its debut in 2009. The show challenges competitors to navigate grueling obstacle courses, testing their physical strength, agility, and mental resilience. The ultimate goal is to conquer all four stages of the National Finals in Las Vegas, including the iconic 75-foot rope climb up Mount Midoriyama, within a 30-second time limit.

For those who achieve this feat, the rewards are substantial, but the prize structure is highly selective, with significant financial incentives reserved primarily for the winner. With American Ninja Warrior season 17 currently airing, it has brought up questions about the show's complex prize money structure. Read on to learn more about the prize money, additional rewards, and the broader context of what contestants gain from competing on American Ninja Warrior.

The American Ninja Warrior Winner Gets $1 Million

There Isn't A Winner Every Season

The grand prize for achieving "Total Victory" on American Ninja Warrior is a substantial $1 million. According to NBC Insider, the prize is awarded to the competitor who completes all four stages of the National Finals, culminating in the Stage 4 rope climb, in under 30 seconds. This prize has been in place since Season 7 in 2015. That's when the show increased the reward from $500,000 in seasons 4–6, and earlier amounts of $250,000 in season 2, and a $500,000 K-Swiss endorsement deal in season 3.

However, the $1 million prize is not guaranteed every season. The courses are designed to be extraordinarily difficult, and in many seasons, no competitor completes all four stages within the time limit. Since the show’s inception, only three individuals have claimed the $1 million prize: Isaac Caldiero from season 7 in 2015, Drew Drechsel from season 11 in 2019, and Vance Walker during seasons 15 and 16 in 2023 and 2024. Vance made history as the first two-time winner, securing $1 million in both seasons.

Vance humorously remarked that taxes made his dream of buying a Rolls-Royce unrealistic, leading him to purchase a BMW 4 Series Convertible instead.

If multiple competitors complete Stage 4 within 30 seconds, the prize money is split among them, with the fastest climber declared the overall winner. From Seasons 2 through 7, only the fastest competitor received the full prize, but since Season 8, the rules have allowed for splitting the $1 million if multiple ninjas succeed. For example, in Season 16, Vance and Caleb Bergstrom both completed Stage 4, but Walker’s faster time of 27.60 seconds secured his title as the Last Ninja Standing.

Is There Other Prize Money?

Additional Ways For Contestants To Bank Cash

For American Ninja Warrior competitors who don’t conquer Mount Midoriyama, there are limited financial rewards. Starting season 10, a consolation prize of $100,000 is awarded to the competitor who progresses the furthest in the National Finals in the fastest time, provided no one claims the $1 million. Another financial incentive is the Mega Wall, introduced in Season 10, a taller 18-foot version of the standard 14.5-foot Warped Wall in the qualifying rounds. Competitors who successfully scale the Mega Wall on their first attempt earn $10,000, with the prize decreasing to $5,000 on the second attempt and $2,500 on the third.

Payout Structure and Tax Considerations

Winner Take All

The $1 million prize is paid out promptly after the winning episode airs, but American Ninja Warriors winners face significant tax liabilities. Vance humorously remarked that taxes made his dream of buying a Rolls-Royce unrealistic, leading him to purchase a BMW 4 Series Convertible instead. There has been debate about the lack of prize money for runners-up or stage finishers. Many argue that a sliding scale could better reward the efforts of top performers, given the show’s profitability. However, the current structure prioritizes the winner-takes-all model, with the Mega Wall and Last Ninja Standing prizes as the only exceptions.

American Ninja Warrior season 17 premieres June 2, 2025, on NBC.

Source: NBC Insider