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In 2018, Ashley Mitchell became the highest earner from The Challenge after she kept an entire million-dollar prize. Two years later, veteran Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio surpassed her when he won Total Madness.

Johnny Bananas during an interview with host Jimmy Fallon
Johnny Bananas during an interview with host Jimmy Fallon | Andrew Lipovsky

Ashley Mitchell previously top earner on ‘The Challenge’

After a brief appearance on The Real World: Ex-Plosion, Ashley Mitchell made her debut on The Challenge for Rivals III (2016) with former housemate, Cory Wharton.

They barely missed the finals, and she returned for Invasion of the Champions. A part of Team Underdog for the majority of the competition, the California-native went on to win the season, taking home $121,250.

She came back for the following season, Dirty 30, but quit the competition after the airline lost her luggage and due to exhaustion from recently filming spinoff Champs vs. Pros.

The reality star returned a year later and won Final Reckoning alongside Hunter Barfield. Instead of splitting the million-dollar prize with him, she chose to keep the entire prize money for herself because she claims he threatened her family.

Mitchell went home first in the following season, War of the Worlds, before making the finals in War of the Worlds 2. However, she went home empty-handed as her team lost.

The California-native accumulated $1,121,250 from her two wins, making her the top earner from the reality series.

Other top earning competitors on ‘The Challenge’

The Real World: Portland star Jordan Wiseley placed third in his rookie season, Rivals II, taking home $7,500. He then won three seasons back-to-back, where he acquired a whopping total of $825,000.

With $833,000 earned from the show, the reality star previously held the record for most money won by a male.

Two-time Survivor Turkey winner Turabi “Turbo” Çamkıran also won his rookie season, War of the Worlds. After completing what many deemed as one of the hardest finals in the show’s history in first place, the MMA fighter took home the grand prize of $750,000.

Veteran Cara Maria Sorbello has competed on the show almost nonstop for the past 10 years, and placed in the finals or won the majority of the seasons. Throughout her career, she’s earned $602,250 from the series.

Johnny ‘Bananas’ Devenanzio now the top earner on ‘The Challenge’

After getting eliminated first in his debut season on The Challenge, Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio returned for Inferno 3, where he made it to the finals, earning $10,000.

He then went on to win two seasons back-to-back before winning another three almost in a row.

The veteran won Rivals III, where he infamously kept the entire $275,000 grand prize. Devenanzio then got eliminated before the finals in the next six seasons, going home empty-handed.

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‘The Challenge’: Why Ashley Mitchell Considers Johnny ‘Bananas’ Devenanzio the ‘G.O.A.T’

After getting sent home in the second’s guy elimination in War of the Worlds 2, the six-time champ returned for his 20th season, Total Madness, with something to prove.

He teamed up with his long-standing rival Wes Bergmann, won a good amount of challenges, and strategically controlled nearly every vote in the house. The veteran then beat Rogan O’Connor in the last elimination before finishing the finals as the first place male, earning $500,000.

With his latest victory, the seven-time winner has accumulated $1,184,720, making him the new top Challenge earner.

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