What It Actually Means To Win A Car On 'The Price Is Right'

The idea of driving off the soundstage in a brand new cherry convertible, an all-expense-paid trip to Hawaii, and a cash prize sounds like the new American dream. But like anything that sounds too good to be true, winning a car or any other big prizes on the game show has a set of strings attached. There's a lot you should know about what happens behind the scenes when you win big on "The Price Is Right."

Some gameshow winners are quick to tell you about the reality of their prizes. "The Price is Right" car winner Debra Field went into detail about the process when she spoke to the Asbury Park Press. She explained that after the taping, contestants are given a list of their prizes and must consent to pay California income taxes. Winners who live outside the state like Deborah can pick up their car at a local dealership, but only after they've sent in a certified check to pay off the sum tax of all the prizes they've chosen to keep. For some winners, that may mean going home empty-handed. 

A showcase winner went into detail about their showcase, as well as other winners on the same episode. They explained that someone who won a $15,000 trip to South Africa didn't have the cash to pay the taxes up front and ended up declining the trip. 

An unnamed "Price Is Right" winner told ABC that "one guy won a $10,000 cash prize and didn't take it because he didn't want to pay half to his ex-wife."  What about trading in the prizes for cash? According to the AMA, the show decides which prizes are eligible for trade, which in this case included smaller items like iPods.

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