Quick Read
- Jas and Jag Bains, brothers and former Big Brother contestants, won The Amazing Race season 38 on December 10, 2025.
- The winning team receives a $1 million prize, though taxes reduce the take-home amount to around $600,000.
- Other contestants earn stipends based on their placement, but amounts are not publicly disclosed.
- Additional prizes like trips and cars are also taxed and not always all-inclusive.
- The real value for most contestants is the adventure and experience gained during the race.
The Amazing Race 38: A New Set of Champions
Every season of The Amazing Race brings with it moments of tension, camaraderie, and sheer unpredictability. But season 38, which wrapped up on December 10, 2025, was a race unlike any before. This time, the cast was stacked with former Big Brother contestants and their closest allies, all vying for the elusive $1 million prize. Yet, as the globe-trotting adventure unfolded, it became clear that two brothers—Jasmair “Jas” Bains and Jagateshwar “Jag” Bains—were determined to write their own legacy in the show’s storied history.
The Road to Victory: How Jas and Jag Bains Set the Pace
From the start, Jas and Jag made their intentions clear. Early victories in two consecutive legs—in the Netherlands and then from the Netherlands to the Czech Republic—sent a message to the rest of the competitors: these brothers were not here to be overlooked. Even when they weren’t first to the mat, they never fell below the top five, a testament to their consistency and strategic prowess (Primetimer).
As the race pressed on, the brothers truly found their stride in Romania, reclaiming the first-place spot in the eighth leg and refusing to let it go until the very end. Their ability to recover from setbacks, adapt to new challenges, and maintain focus under pressure set them apart from the rest of the field. For viewers and fellow racers alike, Jas and Jag became the team to beat.
The Finale: New York City, High Stakes, and a Million-Dollar Finish
The grand finale brought the four remaining teams—Jag and Jas Bains, Taylor Hale and Kyland Young, Izzy Gleicher and Paige Seber, and Joseph and Adam Abdin—to the heart of New York City. It was a fittingly complex and frenetic finish, with each team racing against the city’s energy and their own exhaustion.
The first destination was the Empire State Building, where Jas and Jag arrived ahead of the pack. From there, they dashed to a bakery to pick up a “special package” for Cookie Monster on Sesame Street—a whimsical but high-stakes detour. The brothers’ lead held as they completed the delivery, then navigated the textile maze at Spandex House, searching for 16 specific fabrics to deliver to students at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing; at one point, a piece of fabric got stuck in their cart’s wheel, threatening to derail their momentum. But resilience defined their race. They pressed on to Terminal 1 Studio in Brooklyn, solving a complex puzzle that revealed their final destination: Yankee Stadium. Sprinting to the finish, Jas and Jag were greeted by host Phil Keoghan, who officially crowned them the winners of The Amazing Race season 38 (Primetimer).
What Does Winning The Amazing Race Actually Mean?
The million-dollar prize has been a fixture of The Amazing Race since its debut in 2001. But as fans and potential contestants might wonder, does the winning team really pocket the full amount?
The answer, as explained by tax experts like Roby Sawyers of North Carolina State University, is more complicated. “They most certainly will not keep the whole million dollars,” Sawyers explained in a 2022 interview. The prize is considered taxable income, subject to both federal and state taxes. For most winners, this means roughly $400,000 is deducted for taxes, leaving the actual take-home closer to $600,000 (People).
But money isn’t the only reward. Throughout the race, contestants have the chance to win other prizes—exotic vacations, sponsored by companies like Travelocity and Expedia, and even new cars from brands such as Ford. Yet, as season 21 contestant Mark “Abba” Abbattista shared, these perks come with their own fine print. Vacation prizes are also taxable, and aren’t always all-inclusive—winners often have to pay for their own food and some activities, which can make the trips more of a financial burden than expected.
What About the Other Contestants?
While the million-dollar jackpot is reserved for the winning team, there’s some compensation for other participants. It’s not publicly disclosed by CBS, but former racers have indicated that all teams receive a stipend based on their placement in the race. The further a team makes it, the more they earn, although these amounts are a far cry from the top prize. And like the grand prize, these payments are also subject to taxes.
This system means that, for most contestants, the true value of The Amazing Race lies less in the cash and more in the experience: the adrenaline of each leg, the bond forged under pressure, and the memories of a global journey that few get to undertake.
Big Brother, Bigger Legacy: Jag Bains’ Reality TV Journey
Jag Bains was no stranger to reality TV competition before joining The Amazing Race. As the winner of Big Brother season 25, he made history as the show’s first Sikh champion and pulled off a dramatic comeback after being evicted, only to return thanks to an ally’s timely intervention. That resilience and competitive edge translated seamlessly into The Amazing Race, where, alongside his brother Jas, he proved that determination and teamwork can outpace even the fiercest competitors.
In the final analysis, Jas and Jag Bains’ victory on The Amazing Race season 38 wasn’t just about winning a million dollars or claiming a title. Their journey was a testament to the importance of adaptability, perseverance, and sibling trust under pressure. But for many contestants, the real prize is the adventure itself—one that comes with challenges, rewards, and lessons that last long after the cameras stop rolling.