When it comes to money, RuPaul’s Drag Race has grown from a low-budget production about 15 years ago, filmed through a Vaseline filter in RuPaul’s garage (OK, that’s not entirely true), to a global phenomenon in more than 15 countries, along with a number of spin-offs.
But while the first season was the birth of the million dollar giant we know today as Drag racing In the Ru-niverse universe, queens didn’t roll around in pleasure after every mini-challenge like they do today.
How much money does each season of Drag racings flagship franchise? Ladies and gentlemen, start up your data machines and may the richest drag queen – probably Trixie Mattel – win.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 1: $21,500
The budget for the first Drag racing was close. The not-so-big prize was the same as what just four Maxi Challenges are worth today, namely a measly $20,000 (about £11,800 at the time). Of course, we wouldn’t turn that down, but to put it in context: Ginger Minj won $30,000 (£21,900) for a single lip-sync on All Stars 6.
Prizes for the maxi challenges ranged from hampers of chocolates to bespoke dresses and challenge immunity – and there were no cash prizes for the mini challenges. However, Nina Flowers received $1,500 (£885) for her title of Miss Congeniality.
Season two: $25,000
In 2010, money was still tight, but for the second season the purse was loosened somewhat and the prize money was now $25,000 (£15,800).
Here, too, there were no cash rewards for winning the Maxi or Mini Challenges, but there were a few gift vouchers and shopping trips.
Season three: $75,000
In the third season, the Queens began to climb into the top league (not compared to today’s money, of course).
Raja took home $75,000 (just over £48,000 at the time) for her efforts, but the mini-challenge prizes remained as a slight competitive edge, and the maxi-challenges gave away a few more gift vouchers.
Season four: $100,000
And finally, the big money. From the fourth season and for 10 years after, the prize money was $100,000 (normally between £62,000 and £75,000) until Willow Pill’s triumph, but we’ll get to that later.
The winner of the season received the jackpot, but no one got anything except gift certificates.
Season five: $100,000
Not much changed between the fourth and fifth seasons and there was no money-making in the maxi or mini challenges.
Season six: $100,000
The same was true for the sixth season Queens, with Bianca Del Rio hits the jackpot.
Season seven: $105,000
Katya was the second Miss Congeniality to receive a cash prize with her title: a $5,000 (£3,350) tip, which finally boosted the total prize money.
Season eight: $108,000
In season eight, the winner, Bob the Drag Queen, received the usual $100,000 prize, but a single challenge win also included a company-sponsored gratuity.
Kim Chi took home $3,000 (£2,100) from selfieonastick.com for her win and Cynthia Lee Fontaine received $5,000 (£3,500) as Miss Congeniality. The prize money gradually increased.
Season nine: $108,000
Not much has changed in season nine, with the $100,000 prize going to Sasha Velour, and Miss Congeniality – now called “Fan Favorite” after Valentina was awarded the prize – taking home $5,000 (£3,850).
However, there were a few other challenge wins that came with a $1,000 (£770) tip: Shea, Sasha and Alexis Michelle were the lucky ones.
Season 10: $100,000
You know the drill: Aquaria got the $100,000 (£78,000). What changed this season, however, was that the prize pool actually got smaller. Winnings in Mini and Maxi Challenges were only rewarded with gift vouchers.
Poor Monét X Change was the only Miss Congeniality whose bank account could not be replenished.
Season 11: $110,000
Yvie strangely grabbed the $100,000 (about £89,000 today), but what changed everything in season 11 was Miss Congeniality, All Stars 9is Nina West and begins her era with $10,000 (£10,900) tips.
The Maxi and Mini Challenges were all about gift cards, gift cards, gift cards.
Season 12: $201,000
Season 12 marked the beginning of the era of Drag racing that we are in right now, that is, they have just started throwing money around.
Jaida Essence Hall got her $100,000 (£75,000), Heidi N Closet nabbed the $10,000 (£7,500) for Miss C, but every queen present at the grand finale received a $2,000 (£1,500) tip and all Maxi Challenge winnings were now worth $5,000 (£3,750).
It’s also worth noting that Sherry Pie, who was disqualified from the competition after reaching the final four, won two challenges and was therefore “awarded” $10,000. Since then, according to the season’s wiki page, “VH1 and World of Wonder have matched Sherry’s prize money with donations to The Trevor Project.” It’s unclear if Sherry ever received any cash.
Season 13: $200,500
Season 13 was much the same: Each Maxi Challenge win was worth $5,000 (£3,750), each queen received a $2,000 (£1,500) tip at the finale, LaLa Ri received $10,000 (£7,500) as Miss Congeniality and Symone nabbed a whopping $100,000 (£75,000) as America’s Next Drag Superstar.
Season 14: $313,500
For the first time in Drag racing In history, more than a quarter of a million dollars were given away in a single season. Gag.
Calculator ready? Maxi Challenge prizes were still at $5,000 (£4,200), but several Mini Challenges now also offered $2,500 (£2,100) and once again all finalists received a $2,000 (£1,700) tip.
At the finale, it was announced that the winner (Willow Pill, as it turned out) would receive $150,000 (£127,500) instead of the usual $100,000, and the runner-up (Lady Camden) would receive $50,000 (£42,500). The total prize money was $313,500 (almost £266,500).
Season 15: $317,500
Taking it a step further, the top prize for season 15 was $200,000 (£160,000), which of course went to Sasha Colby.
Otherwise, everyone in the final received $2,000 (£1,600), Malaysia Babydoll Foxx received $10,000 (£8,000) and some mini-challenge wins were worth $2,500 (£2,000). Maxi-challenge wins each received a $5,000 (£4,000) tip.
Season 16: $437,600
Drag racing Season 16 featured a grand prize of $200,000 (£157,000) which went to Nymphia. Each Maxi Challenge win was worth $5,000 (£3,900), both Miss Congenialities (Sapphira and Xunami) received $10,000 (£7,850), Plane Jane received $25,000 (£19,500) after being eliminated in the finale, and Sapphira received the same ($25,000) as runner-up.
Morphine Love Dion picked up $50,000 (£39,000) for her Lip Sync Smackdown win, most of the mini-challenges were worth $2,500 (£1,900) and there was this random mini-challenge where Ru just handed out money, meaning the winner Sapphira got an extra $900 (£700) and all the other cast members picked up at least a few hundred dollars too.
AndIn addition, each participant in the final received $2,000 (£1,500) from Olay Body.
All sterling calculations are estimates. Remember, we’re just poor little journalists – not Alan Turing!
RuPaul’s Drag Race is available on Paramount+ in the US and WOW Presents Plus in the UK and internationally
