The winner of Squid Game: The Challenge season one, Mai Whelan, did not spend her millions on supercars or luxury vacations. Instead, the champion known as Player 287 used her record-breaking $4.56 million prize to fund a lasting legacy focused on helping people, animals, and the planet. Her plans turned a 15-acre property into a hub for charitable work, fulfilling a personal promise she made long before entering the competition.
The Winning Moment
Mai Whelan, a 55-year-old U.S. Navy veteran and former immigration adjudicator, outlasted 455 other players in the intense Netflix reality competition. Her final challenge was a high-stakes game of Rock, Paper, Scissors against fellow finalist Phil. After winning, it took nearly two years for the prize money to reach her, but she had a clear vision for it from the start. She once shared that the only frivolous purchase she made immediately after winning was a beautiful black velvet Ralph Lauren gown for the show’s press tour.
“I always want to give back, because knowing where I came from, it’s hard. It’s a hard struggle, because you don’t know where your future lies when you don’t have the resources. And once you gain the resources you want to give back,” Mai explained.
Funding a Personal Mission
Mai’s spending was guided by a philosophy she calls her “three pillars”: humans, animals, and the Earth. She directed her prize money toward two significant charitable projects rather than personal luxuries.
“With the money, I did a lot of good things. We bought 15 acres for wildlife and also brought two nonprofits onto the property,” Mai stated. “They didn’t have a space to work out of.”
The property now serves as an operational base for two nonprofit organizations. She brought in Ricky’s Retreat, which focuses on mental health services, and Paws of War, an organization that trains service dogs for individuals with PTSD, such as veterans and first responders. This setup perfectly encapsulates her three pillars, helping people, supporting animals, and conserving the earth through the wildlife habitat.
Life After the Game
Since her win, Mai has launched a YouTube series called Mother Mai: The Series. With her prize money, she travels to highlight nonprofit organizations making a difference in their communities. She has also moved back home to Virginia, enjoying a return to normal life with her husband and dogs after the intense competition. She mentioned using some of the winnings for home renovations, including building a small dock for her boat.
Despite becoming a multimillionaire, Mai insists the person who entered the competition is the same person who emerged. The experience, however, did leave its mark. She described every day in the game as a struggle with real fear—fear of elimination or of being targeted by other players. Her resilience, shaped by her life experiences as a Vietnamese refugee, a single mother, and a Navy veteran, ultimately carried her to victory.
Advice for Future Players
With Squid Game: The Challenge now casting for its third season, Mai has straightforward advice for new players. She believes that a lone wolf strategy is a recipe for quick elimination.
“You can’t win the game by yourself. Everybody’s like, ‘I don’t care about anybody else. I’m just in here to play the game and win the money’. It’s good when you have the top five or top 10, but when you’re in the room with 200 people, you can’t do it by yourself. You’re going to get eliminated, just like that,” she advises. “Tone down the ego, and be more humble. And I think people can see the true colour of who plays with heart, and who plays with a knife in the back.”
Her victory proves that success in the game doesn’t require sacrificing one’s integrity. She stated that what she is most proud of is that she didn’t compromise her integrity to win the money.
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