“Bachelor in Paradise” added a twist to season 10, introducing a cash element alongside the search for love.
Host Jesse Palmer revealed during Week 6 in Costa Rica that contestants would face a new kind of relationship test. At the end, couples were separated and asked to choose between “love or money.”
How Much Did ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Finalists Win?
“Paradise is, and always has been, about finding love and creating relationships people can take outside of paradise,” Palmer told the cast during Week 6 in Costa Rica. “And this year, we’re raising the stakes.”
In a shocking reveal, the remaining couples were separated and faced with a choice: love or money. If both partners chose love, they would forgo the cash and reunite in the VIP suite. But if one chose money, that contestant would leave with $250,000 — ending the relationship on the spot.
Ultimately, both couples chose love and were surprised to learn they would still walk away with cash. Each pair selected from three envelopes containing different amounts, with Alexe and Andrew receiving $125,000 and Jess and Spencer taking home $190,000.
‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Contestant Reactions
While some contestants welcomed the opportunity, others worried the money would complicate the process. Former “Golden Bachelorette” contestant Gary Levingston voiced his concerns, saying, “I’m here for love, but it’s now a game, and when money is involved, people do stupid things. People do things just for the money.”
Allyshia Gupta echoed that sentiment, noting the prize could “corrupt” relationships. Still, she admitted she was “excited to see the phony ones start ripping apart at the seams.”
Two weeks after the announcement, contestant Sean McLaughlin faced criticism from others who believed he was strategizing more for the prize than his relationship.
Fellow contestant Bailey Taylor Brown summed up the concern, saying, “I think if you’re only focused on the money, then you’ve lost the plot. You’ll stop caring about your relationship and why you want to get to know your partner. Is it because you actually really like your partner, or is it because you want the money?”
How the Cash Prize Fits Into Bachelor Nation History
While this marks the first time “Bachelor in Paradise” has included a prize, it’s not the franchise’s first attempt to combine love with money. In 2010, ABC launched “Bachelor Pad,” a spin-off where former “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” contestants competed for love and a $250,000 cash prize. The show ran for three seasons before ending in 2012.
Palmer said the addition of money in “Paradise” was intended to build on the excitement of past formats while giving contestants a new reason to prove their relationships were real. “In the end, the strongest and the most deserving couples are going to be faced with a life-changing opportunity,” he explained.
As season 10 closed, one couple made history as the first to claim the half-million-dollar prize, proving that on “Bachelor in Paradise,” love and money can go hand in hand — at least for now.
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