- The Amazing Race Season 39 contestants get paid primarily through the $1 million grand prize for the winning team.
- Placement-based prizes: Teams finishing 2nd through the final legs receive smaller cash awards.
- Appearance pay: Every team receives a stipend that helps cover time away from jobs and family.
- Expenses covered: CBS pays for flights, hotels, and food during the race itself.
- No salary per episode: Contestants are not paid weekly like regular cast members on other shows.
How Contestants Get Paid on Season 39
The question of whether The Amazing Race Season 39 contestants get paid comes up every season, and the answer involves more than just the famous $1 million check. Teams on the long-running CBS reality competition earn money through a structured system of placement prizes, appearance stipends, and covered expenses. Season 39 followed the same general compensation framework as recent seasons, and with 13 teams racing — a cast that host Phil Keoghan described as having beaten out thousands of applicants — the payment structure matters to anyone hoping to compete in a future season.
As Phil Keoghan noted in the Season 39 premiere extras, "I always like to say to teams, look, you've already won. Just being here makes you a winner because you beat out thousands." Making the cast itself is the first payoff, but the money climbs steeply from there.
Video Highlights:
- 13 teams competed in Season 39, each receiving an Express Pass for the first time in show history
- Teams went through multiple casting calls before earning a spot on the race
- The season opened with a leg in Vancouver, Canada
- First eliminated team Zach and Nate were knocked out just hours into the race
The Amazing Race is a competition, not a salaried job. Contestants are paid based on results and participation, not per episode like actors or hosts.
Prize Money Structure by Finishing Place
The headline number everyone remembers is the $1 million grand prize awarded to the first team to cross the finish line. But the payout ladder extends down through the final placements, and understanding it explains why even non-winning teams race hard until the end.
| Finishing Place | Typical Prize (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (Winners) | $1,000,000 | Split between the two team members |
| 2nd | ~$250,000 | Long-standing runner-up amount |
| 3rd | ~$100,000 | Final leg finishers |
| 4th–5th | ~$25,000–$50,000 | Estimated range based on past seasons |
| 6th–11th | ~$5,000–$15,000 | Varies by season and contract |
| 12th–13th | Smaller appearance sums | Early boots receive the least |
CBS does not publish the full prize ladder publicly. Amounts below 3rd place are based on reports from former contestants and may vary by season. Treat non-podium figures as approximate.
Season 39's first eliminated team, brothers Zach and Nate, earned the smallest payout of the season after being eliminated just hours into the opening leg in Vancouver — a tough outcome Phil Keoghan admitted he hates delivering.
Appearance Stipends and Covered Expenses
Beyond placement prizes, contestants receive compensation for their time and have most racing expenses handled by production. This is what makes participation feasible for people who leave jobs and families behind for roughly a month of filming.
Appearance Stipend
- Flat fee for all teams
- Helps offset lost wages
- Modest compared to prize money
- Paid regardless of placement
Covered Expenses
- International flights
- Hotels between legs
- Meals during the race
- Crew-arranged ground transport
Not Covered
- Pre-race travel to the start city
- Personal spending money
- Income lost at home beyond stipend
- Post-race expenses
| Item | Covered by Production? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Race flights | Yes | All intercity and international travel |
| Lodging | Yes | Pit Stop hotels booked by crew |
| Food on course | Yes | Provided during legs |
| Travel to start line | No | Teams arrange their own arrival |
| Souvenirs/personal items | No | Personal cash only |
| Wages from your job | No | Stipend partially offsets |
Because personal costs still exist and the stipend is modest, the real financial draw is the prize ladder. That is part of why some teams applied seven or eight times before finally getting cast, as Phil Keoghan has mentioned.
How Season 39's Format Affected Earning Potential
Season 39 introduced a twist that changed how teams fought for their shot at the million dollars: every one of the 13 teams received an Express Pass at the start of the race, a first in show history. This directly influenced who survived long enough to reach the paying placements.
Evaluate Your Express Pass Early
Teams had to decide whether to burn the pass on Leg 1 to avoid elimination — as some teams did in Vancouver — or hold it as insurance for a later bottleneck.
Survive the Early Legs
Strong first-leg performance historically predicts deep runs, so avoiding an early boot protects your place on the prize ladder.
Reach the Final Five
Prize money increases noticeably in the last few eliminations, making every surviving leg financially meaningful.
Make the Final Three
The final leg guarantees a six-figure payout even for third place, plus the shot at $1 million.
The universal Express Pass shuffled the leg order repeatedly, proving that even stronger teams had to stay sharp to protect their earning position.
What Contestants Should Budget For
If you are considering applying for a future season, plan your finances the way past racers have. Here is a practical checklist based on how compensation actually works.
Pre-Race Financial Checklist:
- Save enough to cover about a month without income
- Arrange travel to the designated start city
- Budget personal spending money for downtime
- Confirm employer leave or remote work options
- Plan for post-race return travel logistics
| Financial Factor | Before the Race | During the Race | After the Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income | Your own job | Stipend only | Prize money if placed |
| Flights | Self-paid to start | Covered | Self-paid return |
| Lodging | Self-paid | Covered | Self-paid |
| Meals | Self-paid | Covered | Self-paid |
| Taxes | None due yet | Accruing | Due on winnings |
Prize winnings on The Amazing Race are taxable income in the United States. Winners have publicly discussed how the $1 million shrinks considerably after federal and state taxes are applied.
FAQ
Q: Do The Amazing Race Season 39 contestants get paid even if eliminated first?
Yes. Every team receives an appearance stipend for participating, and expenses during the race are covered. However, the first team eliminated — Zach and Nate in Season 39 — earns the smallest total payout of the cast.
Q: How much does the winning team of Season 39 receive?
The winning team takes home the $1 million grand prize, split between the two teammates, before taxes. Runner-up and third-place teams receive smaller but substantial placement prizes.
Q: Are contestants paid per episode?
No. Unlike scripted shows or some other reality formats, The Amazing Race pays based on final placement plus a participation stipend, not a per-episode salary.
Q: Do contestants pay for flights and hotels during the race?
No. Production covers all race-related transportation, lodging at Pit Stops, and meals while racing. Teams only need personal money for souvenirs or optional purchases.