RuPaul’s Drag Race has been a phenomenon for over a decade, launching the careers of countless drag performers and putting the art of drag into the mainstream. While the show has brought incredible success to many queens, the rewards have only increased over the years. As the cash tips on RuPaul’s Drag Race and All Stars have grown, so too have the earnings of the show’s most successful contestants.
Winning a maxi challenge during a regular season now comes with a reward of $5,000, while certain mini-challenges are worth $2,500. On All Stars, winning a maxi challenge and its subsequent lip sync for your legacy earns a tip of $10,000. With the introduction of the lip sync assassin format, these cash tips can accumulate from week to week, meaning some contestants can make $20,000 or even $30,000 from winning a single lip sync.
The grand prize of RuPaul’s Drag Race had been $100,000 since season four, but it was increased to $150,000 in season 14 and then to $200,000 in season 15. The most recent All Stars season also saw a $200,000 grand prize for the Queen of All Queens, as well as an additional cash prize of $50,000 for the Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses.
Monét X Change – $115,000
Although Monet X Change didn’t win a cash prize for her Miss Congeniality title, she still made a total of $115,000 from Drag Race. She won the grand prize of $100,000 on All Stars 4, and earned $10,000 from a lip sync win during All Stars 7.
Symone – $120,000
Symone won four maxi challenges during Drag Race season 13, earning a total of $20,000 in cash tips. She then went on to win the season, taking home the grand prize of $100,000. In total, she made $120,000 from the show.
Jaida Essence Hall – $127,000
Jaida Essence Hall earned $15,000 from three maxi challenge wins during Drag Race season 12, and won an additional $100,000 grand prize at the finale. She also received a $2,000 cash tip from Pantene. Jaida then went on to compete in All Stars 7, earning $10,000 from a lip sync win and bringing her total earnings from the show to $127,000.
6-7. Alaska and Trinity The Tuck – $130,000
Both Alaska and Trinity The Tuck earned a total of $130,000 from the show. Alaska won All Stars 2, earning $100,000, and also won $30,000 from three maxi challenge and lip sync wins. Trinity The Tuck won All Stars 4, earning $100,000, and also won $20,000 from two maxi challenge and lip sync wins. She then earned an additional $10,000 from a lip sync win during All Stars 7.
Raja – $135,000
Raja won the grand prize of $75,000 during season 3, and then returned to compete in All Stars 7. She earned $10,000 from a lip sync win, as well as the title of Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses and a cash prize of $50,000. In total, Raja earned $135,000 from the show.
Shea Couleé – $150,000
After not winning any money during season 9, Shea Couleé went on to win All Stars 5 and earned a total of $130,000 from two maxi challenge and lip sync wins, as well as the grand prize of $100,000. During All Stars 7, she won two lip syncs and two maxi challenges, earning an additional $20,000.
Willow Pill – $159,500
Willow Pill won Drag Race season 14 and took home the grand prize of $150,000, as well as $5,000 from a maxi challenge win, $2,500 from a mini challenge win, and $2,000 from the grand finale tip sponsored by Olay. In total, she earned $159,500 from the show.
Sasha Colby – $222,000
Sasha Colby won season 15 and became the first queen to win the grand prize of $200,000. She also earned $20,000 from winning four maxi challenges and received a $2,000 cash tip at the finale. Sasha Colby’s total earnings from Drag Race come to $222,000.
Jinkx Monsoon – $332,500
Jinkx Monsoon has made the most money from Drag Race, earning a whopping $332,500 from the show. She won season 5, earning a grand prize of $100,000. She then went on to compete in All Stars 7 and won an additional $30,000 from three lip syncs and $2,500 from a