Photo:Pete Dadds/NetflixMai Whelan won a historic $4.56 million when she clinched victory onSquid Game: The Challenge— now she’s just ready to have the money in her bank account.The 55-year-old immigration adjudicatorwon the cash prizeback in February when she beat out 455 other players in a series ofgrueling eliminationson the Netflix competition series.“I feel likeTom CruiseinJerry Maguire,” she toldThe Times. “Show me the money!”Addressing Whelan’s claim of a 10-month delay in receiving the payday, a source close to production tells PEOPLE that the winner of the show was aware of the payment plan and is set to receive the prize fund now that the show’s season 1 finale has aired.‘Squid Game: The Challenge’.Courtesy of NetflixWhelan said she already spent some of her expected winnings on a new look for theSquid Gamegala — including a short haircut,Ralph Laurendress andJimmy Chooshoes.“I still have buyer’s remorse from that, but I think it’s well-deserved,” she shared.The Virginia native also hopes to find “a retirement home somewhere,” adding, “We don’t know where yet, and we are happy with where we are. We live on the water. It’s very peaceful.”In addition to her personal plans, Whelan plans to do good with the payday, tellingEntertainment Tonight, “I have charitable causes I wanna contribute more to” including “sponsoring kids receiving education and helping the elderly with their basic needs and health care. And also the wildlife and the climate.““I think those are very important to how we see the world so that way we can live in it and enjoy it for everybody, not just us at the present moment,” she explained.Sam (Player 016), Mai (Player 287), and Phill (Player 451) on ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’.netflixWhelans victory came after she and fellow competitor Phill played a final game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.“I don’t know whether to cry or to cheer. I don’t know what to do,” she told Phill after winning the game.In a confessional interview, she said, “Today just validates that anything is possible. Even when [you] feel down and afraid, you have to pick yourself up, be a strong person and focus. Whatever you fear is, fight it with everything you got, and you can accomplish anything. And I’ve proven that tonight. I am the winner.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Season 1 ofSquid Game: The Challengecan be streamed in full on Netflix. Recruitment for season 2 is now open atSquidGameCasting.com.
Photo:Pete Dadds/Netflix
Pete Dadds/Netflix
Mai Whelan won a historic $4.56 million when she clinched victory onSquid Game: The Challenge— now she’s just ready to have the money in her bank account.The 55-year-old immigration adjudicatorwon the cash prizeback in February when she beat out 455 other players in a series ofgrueling eliminationson the Netflix competition series.“I feel likeTom CruiseinJerry Maguire,” she toldThe Times. “Show me the money!”Addressing Whelan’s claim of a 10-month delay in receiving the payday, a source close to production tells PEOPLE that the winner of the show was aware of the payment plan and is set to receive the prize fund now that the show’s season 1 finale has aired.‘Squid Game: The Challenge’.Courtesy of NetflixWhelan said she already spent some of her expected winnings on a new look for theSquid Gamegala — including a short haircut,Ralph Laurendress andJimmy Chooshoes.“I still have buyer’s remorse from that, but I think it’s well-deserved,” she shared.The Virginia native also hopes to find “a retirement home somewhere,” adding, “We don’t know where yet, and we are happy with where we are. We live on the water. It’s very peaceful.”In addition to her personal plans, Whelan plans to do good with the payday, tellingEntertainment Tonight, “I have charitable causes I wanna contribute more to” including “sponsoring kids receiving education and helping the elderly with their basic needs and health care. And also the wildlife and the climate.““I think those are very important to how we see the world so that way we can live in it and enjoy it for everybody, not just us at the present moment,” she explained.Sam (Player 016), Mai (Player 287), and Phill (Player 451) on ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’.netflixWhelans victory came after she and fellow competitor Phill played a final game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.“I don’t know whether to cry or to cheer. I don’t know what to do,” she told Phill after winning the game.In a confessional interview, she said, “Today just validates that anything is possible. Even when [you] feel down and afraid, you have to pick yourself up, be a strong person and focus. Whatever you fear is, fight it with everything you got, and you can accomplish anything. And I’ve proven that tonight. I am the winner.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Season 1 ofSquid Game: The Challengecan be streamed in full on Netflix. Recruitment for season 2 is now open atSquidGameCasting.com.
Mai Whelan won a historic $4.56 million when she clinched victory onSquid Game: The Challenge— now she’s just ready to have the money in her bank account.
The 55-year-old immigration adjudicatorwon the cash prizeback in February when she beat out 455 other players in a series ofgrueling eliminationson the Netflix competition series.
“I feel likeTom CruiseinJerry Maguire,” she toldThe Times. “Show me the money!”
Addressing Whelan’s claim of a 10-month delay in receiving the payday, a source close to production tells PEOPLE that the winner of the show was aware of the payment plan and is set to receive the prize fund now that the show’s season 1 finale has aired.
‘Squid Game: The Challenge’.Courtesy of Netflix
Courtesy of Netflix
Whelan said she already spent some of her expected winnings on a new look for theSquid Gamegala — including a short haircut,Ralph Laurendress andJimmy Chooshoes.
“I still have buyer’s remorse from that, but I think it’s well-deserved,” she shared.
The Virginia native also hopes to find “a retirement home somewhere,” adding, “We don’t know where yet, and we are happy with where we are. We live on the water. It’s very peaceful.”
In addition to her personal plans, Whelan plans to do good with the payday, tellingEntertainment Tonight, “I have charitable causes I wanna contribute more to” including “sponsoring kids receiving education and helping the elderly with their basic needs and health care. And also the wildlife and the climate.”
“I think those are very important to how we see the world so that way we can live in it and enjoy it for everybody, not just us at the present moment,” she explained.
Sam (Player 016), Mai (Player 287), and Phill (Player 451) on ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’.netflix
netflix
Whelans victory came after she and fellow competitor Phill played a final game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.
“I don’t know whether to cry or to cheer. I don’t know what to do,” she told Phill after winning the game.
In a confessional interview, she said, “Today just validates that anything is possible. Even when [you] feel down and afraid, you have to pick yourself up, be a strong person and focus. Whatever you fear is, fight it with everything you got, and you can accomplish anything. And I’ve proven that tonight. I am the winner.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Season 1 ofSquid Game: The Challengecan be streamed in full on Netflix. Recruitment for season 2 is now open atSquidGameCasting.com.
source: people.com
