“The Price Is Right” has sent lucky winners home with thousands of cars and vacations over the decades. However, never has a contestant won as much as a woman named Vanesa did during the Friday, May 8, episode.
Record Breaking ‘Price Is Right’ Win
A woman only identified as Vanesa from Virginia was called down to Contestant’s Row during the Mother’s Day Special. After winning the bidding round and making it on stage with host Drew Carey, Vanesa was lucky enough to play “The Lion’s Share.”
One of the long-running show’s newest games, “The Lion’s Share” was added to the rotation in September 2025.
“‘The Lion’s Share’ is the first custom-branded game in the show’s history,” according to a press release shared by BetMGM. “‘The Lion’s Share’ game was created as part of the partnership between BetMGM and Fremantle, and the first new pricing game to be added to the show since 2021.”
During the game, contestants have the chance to win up to $500,000 in cash, cars, trips, and prizes.
“The game begins with a challenge, where players judge if the prices of everyday items are correct. Each right answer earns them a ball, for a maximum of five,” the press release explains. “They then step into a wind tunnel chamber to collect the number of balls they’ve earned, with each ball corresponding to a particular prize, or possibly a ‘Lose It All’ option. Contestants reveal their prizes one at a time or may stop at any point to keep what they’ve won.”
Vanesa walked away with more than $240,000 in cash and prizes! Vanesa’s win represents the largest amount won in a single pricing game in the show’s history. Her new record surpassed the previous record of $210,000, which was set in 2016.
“From ‘Come on Down’ to playing ‘The Lion’s Share,’ it all felt so surreal – a dream moment that only kept getting bigger,” she said following her big win. “I was nervous, excited and everything at once. Winning over $200,000 is life-changing. I plan to invest wisely, enjoy a little, and treat my mom to a special surprise.”
‘Price Is Right’ New Changes
The beloved daytime game show — which originally premiered in 1972 with host Bob Barker — in constantly updating its games and introducing fun formats.
Last month, CBS announced that “The Price Is Right” is set to air its first-ever live episode as part of a primetime Christmas special later this year.
“For the first time in its 54-year history on CBS, television’s longest-running game show will air live with THE PRICE IS RIGHT LIVE,” the network said in its announcement, according to Variety.
CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach explained to the outlet that the “Price Is Right” producers delivered a “really fun pitch” for the idea.
“We challenged them, we really liked the idea of doing this, but how do you make it unique and specific and not feel like a taped episode?” she said. “And they’ve got some really fun ideas that they’re going to implement to bring the audience into that live experience. I think the prizes are what brings people in, the joy of seeing people win. And at the holiday season, I can’t imagine anything more fun for everyone to witness people winning prizes live.”
