1. A Live Elephant
Imagine winning a game show and realizing you need to find space for a full-grown elephant. That’s exactly what happened on The Price Is Right in the ‘50s when a contestant was awarded a living, breathing elephant as a prize. While it’s unclear whether they actually took the animal home, the show did offer a cash equivalent—probably a relief for anyone without a backyard big enough for a pachyderm. Host Bill Cullen joked about the absurdity, but the prize was completely serious. The idea was likely to one-up the extravagant car and vacation giveaways that were already common. It definitely made an impression, though it’s hard to say whether it was a good one says Mental Floss.
The logistics of such a prize are mind-boggling. Who handles the transport? Where does one even put an elephant? And what about feeding it? Thankfully, game shows have since abandoned the trend of live animal prizes. But in an era when TV was all about spectacle, this might have been the most over-the-top giveaway of all time.
2. A Decommissioned Soviet Tank
Winning a vehicle on a game show is nothing new, but what about a full-sized, decommissioned tank? That’s what happened on the UK show Top Gear when one lucky contestant walked away with a genuine Soviet T-55 tank. While the military hardware was no longer combat-ready, it was still a massive, intimidating piece of machinery. The winner reportedly had no idea what to do with it, which is understandable since parking a tank isn’t exactly straightforward explains BuzzFeed.
Owning a tank might sound fun in theory, but it comes with its own set of challenges. For starters, it’s not street-legal, so taking it for a joyride is out of the question. Then there’s the issue of maintenance—because even a non-functional tank still needs upkeep. The contestant ultimately found a buyer, turning their bizarre prize into cash. It’s probably for the best, since homeowners’ associations tend to frown upon armored vehicles in the driveway.
3. A House on an Uninhabitable Island
On a game show, winning a house seems like a dream—until you find out the fine print. That’s what happened when a contestant on Wheel of Fortune was awarded a luxurious home on a private island, only to discover that the island was completely uninhabitable. The house had no running water, electricity, or even a reliable way to get to and from the mainland. While technically a house, it was more like a very fancy camping site adds MSN.
The winner was left with an expensive burden instead of a dream getaway. Selling the property proved difficult since few people were willing to buy a home they couldn’t easily use. In the end, they had to forfeit the prize and take a much smaller cash alternative. It’s a reminder that sometimes, free isn’t always as good as it sounds. At least they got a great story out of it—if not a livable vacation home.
4. A Lifetime Supply of Sausage
Food prizes are common on game shows, but one contestant on Let’s Make a Deal received an especially meaty reward—a lifetime supply of sausage. It seemed like a fun, quirky prize at first, but the reality quickly set in. The winner was soon inundated with an overwhelming amount of sausage, more than any person could possibly eat. Even with a deep freezer, there’s only so much room for endless tubes of meat.
The show’s version of “lifetime supply” turned out to be a set number of shipments rather than an actual endless stream. Still, it was enough sausage to make anyone reconsider their dietary choices. The winner ended up donating large portions to local food banks, which was a great way to turn a ridiculous prize into something positive. But it’s safe to say they probably didn’t crave sausage again for a very long time.
5. A Giant Rock
One unlucky contestant on Let’s Make a Deal won what was, quite literally, just a rock. Not a rare gem or a valuable mineral—just a massive boulder with no practical use. The prize was meant to be a joke, but it was technically real, and the winner had to figure out what to do with it. Transporting the rock was its own ordeal since it weighed hundreds of pounds.
Eventually, the contestant convinced the show to take it back, sparing them the hassle of finding a permanent home for it. The whole stunt was a perfect example of how game shows love to walk the line between funny and frustrating. While most prizes have at least some value, this one was purely absurd. At the very least, it made for a great story—assuming they had the strength to tell it after all that heavy lifting.
6. A Trip to the Underworld
One British game show took things to a darkly humorous level when it awarded a “trip to the underworld.” The show Distraction was known for its bizarre and sometimes cruel prizes, and this one was no exception. The winner received an all-expenses-paid trip to visit some of the creepiest and most haunted locations in the world, including catacombs and underground crypts. While technically a vacation, it wasn’t exactly the relaxing getaway most people hope for.
The contestant reportedly had mixed feelings about their prize. While it was certainly unique, it also meant spending a lot of time in places most people would rather avoid. The show reveled in the weirdness, making it clear that the winner was in for a hauntingly memorable experience. Whether it was a reward or a punishment is still up for debate.
7. A Buried Treasure Hunt
Imagine winning a prize, only to be told you have to dig for it. That was the premise of a bizarre giveaway in the ‘80s when a game show awarded a “buried treasure” prize. The winner received a set of coordinates and a shovel, with the promise that something valuable was hidden underground. The only catch? The treasure was buried somewhere in a remote location, meaning the winner had to embark on a full-scale excavation to claim it.
The idea was meant to be fun, but in practice, it was just frustrating. Digging for an unknown prize is a lot less exciting when you’re knee-deep in dirt with no guarantee of success. Eventually, the contestant gave up, leaving the mystery treasure unclaimed. If it’s still out there, it might just be the world’s most forgotten game show prize.
8. A Year’s Supply of Crickets
Game shows love to get creative with their “lifetime supply” prizes, but one contestant got an especially strange deal—a full year’s supply of crickets. The insects were intended as food, part of a push toward sustainable eating. The winner, however, wasn’t exactly thrilled about the prospect of an endless stream of edible bugs. While some adventurous eaters might have embraced the challenge, this particular contestant was not one of them.
Faced with boxes of chirping cargo, they quickly sought out alternative solutions. Many of the crickets ended up being donated to reptile owners, who at least had a practical use for them. The experience was a stark reminder that not all food prizes are created equal. While a year’s supply of pizza might have been exciting, a year’s supply of crickets was more of a nightmare.
9. A Floating Mansion
One particularly luxurious prize on The Big Giveaway was a floating mansion, a sprawling houseboat that promised the winner a life of luxury on the water. The mansion was fully equipped with everything from a jacuzzi to a grand piano, making it seem like the ultimate prize. However, living on the water comes with its own set of challenges—such as unpredictable weather, constant maintenance, and the occasional problem with docking.
While it certainly made for an eye-catching prize, the reality of a floating mansion wasn’t as glamorous as it appeared. The winner eventually struggled with the upkeep and sold it not long after. This was one of those prizes that sounded better in theory than in practice, especially for anyone without a desire to live the maritime lifestyle. But it’s safe to say it was one of the most memorable prizes in game show history.
10. A Private Island (With a Catch)
On Wheel of Fortune, one lucky contestant won a private island, but there was one big catch: the island was entirely undeveloped. No houses, no running water, and no way to even get there easily. While the idea of owning a private island sounds like a dream, the reality was a little less glamorous. The winner quickly realized that having an island was more of a burden than a blessing.
Eventually, the contestant had to accept a much smaller cash prize as an alternative, trading in their island for something a bit more practical. Though the idea of a private island was tempting, it wasn’t as easy to manage as it sounded on TV. In the end, the whole thing served as a reminder that sometimes the allure of a big win can hide some not-so-appealing truths.
11. A $1 Million Prize in Penny Form
Who wouldn’t be thrilled to win $1 million? But what if you were handed your prize in the form of a literal mountain of pennies? That’s exactly what happened on Deal or No Deal when a contestant won a million-dollar prize, but the money came in the form of heavy, bulky pennies. The prize was no longer glamorous once they realized how difficult it would be to transport and use such a massive quantity of coins.
While the $1 million was still valuable, the inconvenience of carrying around an enormous amount of pennies quickly became apparent. The winner, no surprise, opted to exchange the pennies for cash in more usable denominations. This prize left the winner in a bit of a bind but made for one of the most memorable (and awkward) prizes in game show history.
12. A Lifetime Supply of Toilet Paper
While lifetime supply prizes tend to be a little on the odd side, one game show took it to a new level when they awarded a contestant a lifetime supply of toilet paper. It might sound practical at first—who doesn’t need toilet paper? But the sheer volume of rolls was a bit excessive, filling up an entire room.
As the contestant soon discovered, managing that much toilet paper became a challenge. While it was a useful prize in theory, it wasn’t exactly exciting to receive hundreds of packages of TP. In the end, the contestant had to find creative ways to store it all. They eventually started donating it, proving that sometimes even the most basic prizes can become a logistical nightmare.
13. A Golden Toilet
Some game shows really know how to make a prize memorable—like when The Art of Living gave away a golden toilet. Yes, a toilet made entirely of solid gold. The toilet, valued at a whopping $4.5 million, was more of a work of art than a functional bathroom fixture. It was designed by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and was more about the novelty than practicality.
The prize wasn’t something the winner could easily take home. In fact, the golden toilet was on display at a museum, and after it was stolen, the prize was never recovered. The heist made headlines worldwide, and the golden toilet became a symbol of the absurdity of extravagant prizes. While a golden toilet may not be the most practical prize, it certainly holds a unique place in game show history.
14. A Shopping Spree with No Limits
If you’ve ever dreamed of a shopping spree where you can take anything you want without worrying about the cost, then Supermarket Sweep gave one lucky contestant just that. But this was no ordinary spree—it was unlimited, meaning there were no restrictions on what or how much you could grab. The winner was free to fill their cart with anything they desired, from luxury goods to household staples.
While it seemed like a dream come true, the spree soon turned into a race against time. Contestants had to act quickly to fill their cart, and the frenzy of grabbing everything in sight was a bit overwhelming. But in the end, the winner walked away with an impressive haul. The chaotic nature of the prize made it one of the most adrenaline-pumping game show moments, leaving everyone wondering what they would’ve grabbed if they had the chance.