‘Wheel of Fortune’: Postal Worker Loses Car as Fans Call Prize ‘Disappointing’
A Wheel of Fortune contestant has gone haywire after losing the prize of a lifetime. Ricky Lowery, from Fresno, Texas, didn’t win the car during the Bonus Round, but fans deemed the prize “disappointing” anyway.
On Tuesday’s (March 4) episode, Lowery, a postal service worker and retired military veteran, played against Pierce Goodbread, from Atlanta, Georgia, and Kimberly Malesky, from Santa Barbara, California. Goodbread is an avid gamer and former boxer. Malesky caught a rumor that the wheel was heavy, so she prepared her weight regiment.
Goodbread solved the first two toss-ups, giving him the lead with $3,000. He went on to guess a few letters in the new puzzle, but when he guessed wrong, it moved to Malensky. She solved most of the puzzle until she also guessed a wrong letter. It was finally Lowery’s turn, and he landed on Bankrupt. Goodbread then solved the puzzle, “Gnarly wipeout, dude,” gaining another $1,000.
Lowery earned $1,400 on the second puzzle, “Odd job promotion.” Goodbread was still in first with $4,000, and Malesky did not have any money. However, Lowery’s luck ran out on the next puzzle when he landed on a Bankrupt, but Goodbread did not maintain the lead as he also landed on the dreaded wedge. However, the postal service worker won the round and a trip to Aruba. This brought his total to $13,882.
Everyone guessed one puzzle toss-up at the end of the game, all earning $2,000. Goodbread solved the final puzzle, “Fake it til you make it,” making his final total $14,250. Malesky ended with $2,000. Lowery was the big winner with $15,882, giving him a trip to the Bonus Round.
He picked “Phrase” for his puzzle. Host Ryan Seacrest let him know that a car, $75,000, and $100,000 were options available on the wheel.
After Wheel gave him “R,S,T,L,N, and E,” Lowery picked “G,H,D, and A,” to round out his letters. His puzzle then looked like “G_NE HA_ _ _ RE.” The puzzle was revealed to be “Gone Haywire.” Lowery said “Gone,” but couldn’t quite guess the last word.
Seacrest opened the envelope and revealed that Lowery missed out on a Mini Cooper. The game show contestant threw his head back and shook it in disbelief. He still went home with nearly $16,000.
However, some Wheel fans don’t think that a car is a good prize and think the show should just give the contestants money instead.
“Car for a final prize? That seems like a much worse option, right?” a Reddit user asked. “Most spins are ~$40k these days, so a Mini Cooper convertible worth $41k seems like a terrible alternative.”
“Also, you have to pay the tax on it. It’s the same thing if you win a trip. I’d rather have all cash,” a fan commented.
“If you buy the car at a dealership, you pay under 41k. That’s the highest price. Yup, rather have the cash. The trips are also listed at the highest price as well. Airfare and hotels can always be found cheaper. Cash is king,” replied a watcher.
“If I were on the show, I’d be pretty disappointed if I won the car. I’d much, much rather just have the cash,” said another.
“They should at least award a car with a higher retail value of $50-60k. I believe the taxes on a $40k car would be similar to $40k in cash,” a Reddit user said.
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How do you think WoF gets its prizes and prize money? They advertise products. Some ads are in commercial breaks, but others are worked into the program. Mini Cooper pays for its car to be shown and mentioned during the program. Having contestants win one as a prize and exude joy over winning it gives millions of viewers the impression that the Mini Cooper is a desirable car worth owning. Mini Cooper sells cars to thousands of WheelWatchers as a result of tge product placement
When Wheel gives cash as a prize, there is no additional income from sponsorship for that. Contestants should feel lucky that WoF gives any cash as prizes instead of only sponsored products because the value of prizes is considered income, so prize-winners must pay the income tax of their prizes before they can take the prizes home.
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Some people don’t understand how it works. They just want free stuff.
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Yeah doubt they would last any round. That last puzzle even for me was actually easier than most.
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If you don\'t like the prizes, don\'t play the game.
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Omg
Stop the complaining people
A prize is a prize ...winning a car for 20 min of work . So what how much the prize is...other game shows give less and you don thear any complaints...if it bothers you do much watch something else
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Oh geez, yes, it\'s a game show so quit whining about the the prizes that add to to the variety trying (!) to entertain you. Different amounts of money? Are the viewers alll accountants and tax preparers?
Big yawn here.
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Don\'t know why some folks grip about the way the shows are run. They have their rules and they go by them. If they didn\'t the shoes wouldn\'t last long. Those who whine must be one of the type folks who think everyone gets a trophy.
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It would be nice if they would give you the option of cash or the car.
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There have been cars as prizes on WoF for ages.
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I had a friend who did not even start the car he won on a car show. Then he called the dealer who provided the car and negotiated a dollar value instead. I assume others do the same.
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Es;pecially when the prize winner doesn\'t have the cash available to pay the required income tax before they can collect their prize.
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A friend won a house from a radio station. Taxes were exhobantly high they took out a loan against it to pay the taxes. I imagine large game show prizes could be done the same way.
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Not to mention property taxes.
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Some countries do not have taxes on prizes! I think the United States shouldn\'t have taxes on prizes either! If he had won that car, he would have had to have paid around $8,000!
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You can move
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Not bad for a BRAND NEW CAR
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Some contests offer prize + extra cash that is intended to cover the income taxes (i.e. New truck + $10k cash). I feel like this needs to be a thing for every giveaway, seeing as how most Americans live paycheck to paycheck and could never afford the taxes on any $50k prize.
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Again?!?. I don\'t understand that if you make it to the final round you have plenty of cash to pay the taxes. Then sell it if you have to. I mean I don\'t understand why everyone thinks that\'s bad. You still come out way ahead like 30 or 40 grand. More than what you came in with.b
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It\'s income, like any other income. You win at the racetrack, your winnings are taxable as income.
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Ok. Than turn around and sell it if you want and make 25 or 30 grand on it. Wow what\'s the problem here. Money is money. So you have to do a little work.
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Typically there is a \"cash option\" for merchandise prizes, but it would be nice if WOF gave winners the car AND enough cash to cover the taxes.
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WOW ... Should WOF pay the insurance too ? It\'s unbelievable how greedy people are.
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A Mini Cooper is a small car for such a big man
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Not greedy lazy. Must think you should also make 40 an hour at McDonald\'s to pay for that 350 thou house most don\'t need
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Regimen. A regiment is a military group.
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You have a great idear for there process
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Wow, you come in with nothing & you may leave with money, trip, car... You know you will have to pay taxes.... I mean, come on, have fun. I just don\'t get some people. If you\'re the winner & you don\'t like it, don\'t take it.... I bet you take it.
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These comments show you how ignorant people are
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I have a Mini Cooper and I love it. People who denigrate the Mini have no idea what they are missing.
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Whether a contestant wins a car or cash, it is still taxed by the IRS.
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Nobody mentioned the fact that no way that big dude is fitting in s Mini Cooper.
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You have to pay taxes whether you win a prize or money.
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Win something free and then complain about it. How American.
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I’m pretty sure you can get the money if you want and not take the prizes.
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Why not just use the cash won in the regular game to pay the taxes on a car if you win the bonus round
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I have been reading the comments and I think they are right. If they win a lot of money they can go out and buy their own car. May they don’t like the car you have and would prefer another model.
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Sounds like pure greed to me! Ungrateful people these days.
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You know you pay taxes on cash winnings too, right?
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The cash has taxes taken out of it also. After you pay the tax on the car, you still have a car to sell for additional cash. I suppose if you don\'t mind long-term, you could take the cash, invest it and wait 10 years.
I can\'t understand complaining over a freebie that costs you nothing but a short time playing a game YOU APPLIED FOR. Greed... always wants a larger piece of pie.
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It\'s a show. A game of chance and some spelling skills. But today, people will complain about a stick
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Every time I watch it they always either win/lose $40000. It\'s like that\'s all they have on the wheel.
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It\'s probably while you people aren\'t on the show.
Complainers.
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Contestsnts (and fans) know the rules before hand, including having to pay tax on your winnings, whether a car or cash.
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Most annoying show is Price is right I hate that show the Both announcers are so annoying Big mouths n the crowd and contestants scream so loud it\'s so awful.N they didn\'t even win yet I really dislike that show now it gets turned off right away My Mom puts it on n everyone in the House complain right away no one likes the show we all hate it . You gotta pay taxes on every prize you get it must be paid before you can even receive it..There\'s cheating going on to Bad rules when bidding after a player bids on a prize the next player can bid one dollar over his bid which means that player just got screwed by the player who bid one dollar more it\'s not right he would have to get bid right on the amount to win so he got screwed by that player if someone did that to me I probably would punch him in the face right on live TV they would have to put hand cuffs on me .That player is out for himself Only he\' or she should not win anything they are evil.The Show is a disgrace.
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Stupid article
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If you don’t like the way they do it; don’t watch!!!
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What a bunch of cry babies. One commenter making note that they have to payback on the $41000 car so it\'s not a good prizel...guess what! The contestants have to.pay tax on the money they win. Winning anything has a taxable value. He can sell the car if he doesn\'t want it.
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Not payback...that was supposedcto say PAY TAX ON
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I think maybe don\'t be so rough or you might have to pay a penalty. Tell them that they are hurting Drew and if it continues he will have to have surgery on his shoulder. Or you might just tell them the truth. Stop it or he will have to be off the show
Healing.
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I thought it was fair. I got right at the end.
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It seems like they have a lot of $40,000 spits. That\'s all people been winning. I\'m glad the lady won the mini cooper
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