DONDI Season 2 Drops Biggest Game Show Prize in History: Deal or No Deal's Biggest Banker Offers
After David Genat's triumphant game against the Banker, he took home the highest offer in the show's history.
Viewers were left with their jaws on the floor in the Season 2 finale of Deal or No Deal Island after David Genat, the season's champion and "Golden God" of Australian Survivor, took home the biggest prize in game show history.
During his mind-blowing final game against Deal or No Deal Island Banker Chrissy Teigen, David didn't shy away from making big moves, playing for eight rounds until scoring a final offer of $5,800,000. David thrived on Banker's Island thanks to his fearlessness in the face of risk, and as the recipient of more money than anyone has ever won in primetime history, you can bet he's excited about his gamble. David's glorifying victory may have inspired some to wonder: Who won the most money on the original Deal or No Deal? What have been the biggest offers across the Deal or No Deal and DONDI franchises?
RELATED: What to Know About Deal or No Deal Island Season 2
Deal or No Deal Island's offer system works differently than its Emmy-winning original, with some of the biggest offers in television history being made weekly at Temple. Read on to look back on some of the game show's biggest offers and pay-outs.
The Biggest Offers on O.G. Deal or No Deal
Part of what makes Deal or No Deal Island such a gripping competition is the sheer amount of money on the line — the Banker has gotten a bigger wallet since the O.G. series, leading many to flock to Banker's Island in hopes of scoring the massive prize. But before the nail-biting games at Temple, the Banker still managed to keep contestants sweating with jaw-dropping offers.
Throughout Deal or No Deal's various iterations, countless hopeful contestants have faced the formidable Banker hoping to strike a deal that could transform their lives, leading to some genuinely awe-inspiring victories throughout the years.
Biggest Winner by Deal (Regular $1,000,000 board): Thorpe Schoenle
Thorpe Schoenle was one of the first contestants to win big on the original Deal or No Deal, joining the competition in Season 2. After the Banker offered him a deal of $464,000, Schoenle accepted the offer, and later learned that he was holding the $400,000 case.
Biggest Winner by No Deal (Regular $1,000,000 board): Peter Shine and Tunde Oyeneyin
Peter Shine made waves in Season 2 after he turned down an offer from the Banker worth $83,000, choosing to play on with $75,000 and $100,000 left on the board. After deciding to keep his own case, Shine took home $100,000. A few seasons later, Deal or No Deal contestant Tunde Oyeneyin led a similarly fantastic game against the Banker. After she turned down every offer, the odds were in Oyeneyin's favor as she won a new car and a prize of $100,000.
Biggest Winner by No Deal (Modified board): Jessica Robinson and Tomorrow Rodriquez
During the O.G. Deal or No Deal days, Jessica Robinson was the first to shatter the odds by becoming the first contestant to win the top prize of $1,000,000. Robinson scored the life-changing sum during Season 4 while playing the show's Million-Dollar Mission, which featured a board with additional million-dollar cases. After turning down a final offer of $561,000 and choosing to keep her case, Robinson won the million and made Deal or No Deal history.
A month after Robinson scored the top prize on Deal or No Deal, Tomorrow Rodriquez repeated history during her Million-Dollar Mission. After receiving an offer of $677,000, Rodriquez turned down the deal and played on, eliminating enough cases until she automatically secured the top prize, cementing that million-dollar mission as a resounding success.
Biggest Winner by Deal (Modified board): Kimberly Chastang
Competing during the Season 2 premiere of Deal or No Deal in 2006, Kimberly Chastang made a splash after her successful game. Despite kicking the $2 million case out of the game, she broke records at the time for taking a deal of $701,000 with six cases still left.
David Genat broke primetime records with his Deal or No Deal Island offer
Banker's Offer: $5,800,000
GOOD DEAL
David Genat's game against Season 2 Banker Chrissy Tiegan had the former briefcase model sweating after he turned down not one but three million-dollar offers, going with his gut and pressing on during his Deal or No Deal game until landing that jaw-dropping final deal of $5,800,000. David took that money and ran — and after host Joe Manganiello opened the cases, he learned he made the right call.
Jordan Fowler Bull was DONDI's first big-winner
Banker's Offer: $1,230,000
GOOD DEAL
Banker's Island is the ideal place to strike big, and Jordan Fowler Bull proved just that during her Season 1 battle against Deal or No Deal Island's debut Banker, Howie Mandel. After a game defined by her expert social skills and affinity for playing it safe, Fowler struck a good deal with the Banker and took home $1,230,000.
RELATED: Deal or No Deal Island's Jordan Talks Winning Strategy, Feeling the Love & That Surprise Reveal
Nick Grasso got offered big but flopped even harder
Banker's Offer: $4,417,000
BAD DEAL
Not every Deal or No Deal story ends happily. Case in point: DONDI Season 1 contestant Nick Grasso, who proved that the bigger the offers get, the harder the fall when the odds don't shake out. After scoring a record-breaking offer of $4,417,000, Grasso ended up on the Bad Deal side of a 50/50 fallout and was eliminated from Banker's Island.
RELATED: Nick Grasso Defends "Fiery" Amy & Talks His Record-Breaking Deal or No Deal Island Shocker
Dawson Addis hedged his bets after a million-dollar offer
Banker's Offer: $1,399,000 or $100,000 (with conditions)
GOOD DEAL
The Season 1 Banker had DONDI's Dawson Addis in a bit of a pickle during his Deal or No Deal game he received not one but two enticing offers: a Banker's offer of $1,399,000 or a personal offer of $100,000 that Dawson could take home immediately if he exited the game. After contemplating his odds on Banker's Island and his likelihood of defeating the Banker with three cases remaining in the game, Dawson accepted the personal offer and headed home $100,000 richer.
Miranda Harrison took a big DONDI offer but paid the price
Banker's Offer: $937,000
BAD DEAL
Miranda is one of the first DONDI players to receive a truly astronomic offer from the Banker, scoring not only an enticing proposal of $937,000 but also a one-time personal offer. If Miranda agreed to the Banker's $937,000 deal, she'd receive $40,000 in prize money. Miranda went for the gold, but the odds proved to be against her after she opened her case and unveiled a Bad Deal, ending her time on Banker's Island.
Watch Deal or No Deal Island on Peacock.
