‘The Price is Right’ Fans Divided as Contestant’s ‘Dumb’ Decision Costs Him a Car

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The Price is Right fans were shocked after a contestant’s ‘dumb’ decision cost him a brand-new car.

As reported by The U.S. Sun on last Wednesday’s (May 15) edition of the long-running game show, a contestant named Craig made it up to the main stage to take on the Spelling Bee game.

For those unfamiliar, Spelling Bee sees a contestant trying to spell the word “CAR” using honeycomb-shaped cards. The contestant is given two free cards at the start, kept face down. They can then earn up to three more cards, each coming with a corresponding prize. If they guess the price (within $10) of the prize, they win that prize and another card from the board.

All the cards chosen are kept face down, each worth $1,000. The contestant then has the option to leave the game with the value of the cards they earned or continue and flip the cards over to see if they can spell “CAR” and win themselves a car.

By the end of the game, Craig had four cards worth $4,000, and host Drew Carey asked him if he wanted to leave with the money or play on to try to win the car. Craig turned to his wife in the audience and then told Carey he was going to “take the money and run,” saying he had a gut feeling that he didn’t have the correct letters.

Unfortunately for Craig, his gut was wrong. As the cards were revealed, the first had a “C” on it, the second an “A”, and the third a “R.”

 

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The studio audience were rocked as they realized Craig had just lost out on the car prize. As for Craig, all he could do was put his hands on his head.

“I’m $4,000 richer than when I came here,” Craig said, trying to see the positive in the situation.

Viewers at home were split on whether Craig made the right decision.

“All I can say to Craig is this. How can you play Spelling Bee if you don’t have any confidence in yourself?” wrote one fan on Instagram.

“If I came with nothing, I’d expect to leave with nothing – always go for the car!” said another.

Another added, “He should go with the car oh my gosh I will go for it if I were you.”

“That was dumb. ALWAYS try for the car,” said one user.

“I would have taken the $4,000. Auto insurance these days are so high,” quipped one commenter.

“$4k is for 4K, sometimes you gotta go w your gut,” said another.

“I’m a gambler all or nothing but I respect Craig choice,” added one fan.

What do you think? Should Craig have gone for the car? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

The Price Is Right, Weekdays, CBS




Conversation23 Comments

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  1. R

    Reader

    I always say go with your gut. After all how many times in a person's life are they going to be offered $4,000? He did what he felt was right and everybody should respect his decision even though they may not agree with his decision. And you don't know what you would have done if you were in his shoes.

    17

  2. R

    Reader

    I would have taken the money. Remember, you have to pay thousands in taxes on that car. You're also responsible for getting that car delivered to wherever you live. With the money you just pay taxes on it at the end of the year.

    13

    1. R

      Reader

      You pay taxes on game show winnings before you get what's left.

    2. R

      Reader

      They withhold the tax but in some cases you may be able to file an exemption. People often claim more dependents than they have on their W2 to exempt them from automatic deductions.

  3. R

    Reader

    You get your ... up there and do it. If anybody REALLY knew the game, theres only so many Cs As and Rs, (plus 2 instant wins). he made the right choice mathematically. I also like the other comment about car insurance. NEVER buy brand new, its WAY TOO EXPENSIVE

    7

  4. R

    Reader

    He won because nobody thinks about the taxes he has to pay on that car not to mention shipping fees. I wouldn't want the car either

    8 1

  5. R

    Reader

    Ugh... Let the dude play the game the way he wanted to play it. He got 4,000 dollars... He's happy. Fans need to get over it.

    5

  6. R

    Reader

    Hindsight is 20/20 He had a 33% chance of winning the car he had a 100% chance of walking out of there with $4,000 which is a lot of money If the word car wouldn't have come up everybody would say he made a mistake not taking the money He made his choice

    5

  7. R

    Reader

    Are contestants required to pay the taxes upon winning a car? If so, if he didn’t have the funds and couldn’t borrow then he would have went home with nothing. Taxes are not the responsibility of the game shows.

    1

  8. R

    Reader

    It’s always easy to say go for it. They may have equally needed the money and the car. Something is better than nothing. I’ve seen lots of contestants lose on this game and he could’ve been one of them. Had he went for it and lost then folks would’ve been saying he should’ve taken the cash. Myself…I think I would’ve done the same. $4k guaranteed is a lot better than 4 losing cards

    1

  9. L

    Leonard saccheri

    I think Craig should have been told the odds of that game and then make a choice, if the odds in that game were good, you know like my chances of winning , then I would of played on or take the money 💰 💰 🤑 🤑

  10. R

    Reader

    Whoever said "go for the car" should stay out. It's the contestant's decision and not theirs. I've seen it a lot during Barker's era, I would of gone with the money. I remember someone got really lucky with 4 cards. A 'C', an 'A', a 'R' and a 'CAR' on 4 cards. Next time look at the probability before you make the decision. Carey had a lot of losers....you might be next.

  11. R

    Reader

    He's from Michigan wished everyone well except people in Ohio. I'm glad he didn't win the car. . Loser

  12. R

    Reader

    Well crown Vic took it all,no surprise there.

  13. R

    Reader

    You have to pay sales tax and registration when you win a car. That's about $4000 right there.

  14. R

    Reader

    Better to pay tax on 4000 than the tax on that new car

  15. R

    Reader

    Take the money. The taxes on the car are 33%

  16. R

    Reader

    "A bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush"

  17. R

    Reader

    I would of taken the cash 💰 A lot easier to take home!

  18. R

    Reader

    A bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush I guess!

  19. R

    Reader

    I would take the chance & go for the car. That’s what most contestants want to win, Got to go for the gusto & try !!!

  20. R

    Reader

    One waits for quite a while to even get on the show, why not go for a car when the opportunity hits?

    1 2

  21. R

    Reader

    The guy was an idiot for going for the money?! He should’ve stuck with it, but no the idiot was greedy?!

    3