Survivor 50’s record two million dollar prize will hand its winner a life-changing payout — and an equally outsized tax bill. Federal and state taxes could claim more than eight hundred thousand dollars of the jackpot, depending on where the champion lives and how much other income they earn this year.

This season’s finalists — Aubry Bracco, Tiffany Ervin, Joe Hunter, Rizo Velovic, and Jonathan Young — are competing for the show’s biggest prize in its 25-year history. One of them will walk away with the title of sole Survivor, but the second-place winner will be an unnamed contestant: the government, which will take a significant share of the winnings.

Why Game Show Winnings Get Taxed

Under Section 61 of the Internal Revenue Code, nearly all forms of income are subject to taxation unless specifically excluded. This definition extends from salaries and wages to income from tips and bonuses, all the way to income received from competing on a game show.

Game show winnings have sparked controversy in the past as contestants on shows like Jeopardy........

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