Challenge Stars Talk Why Winning Is Worth More Than Prize Money

For some stars of The challenge, sensation how a million dollars means much more than just pocketing it.

“Pride is a hellish thing” Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio reflected in an exclusive interview with E! News’ Francesca Amiker“For me, to be able to lift that trophy and say I won, it’s worth so much more than the money at the end.”

Not that he didn’t appreciate the roughly $1.1 million he earned from his seven wins, a franchise-high.

“Of course it’s beautiful,” The Real World: Key West the former student acknowledged. “But people don’t understand how absolutely insanely difficult this show is, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally. There has to be an element of luck in every single season, because there’s no way you’re going to get to the finals without some luck falling in your favor.”

Notice the obstacles that contestants face even before they perform the host T.J. Lavin‘s notoriously brutal finish, Johnny continued, “To be able to lift that trophy at the end, it’s one of the hardest things you can do on Earth. So I don’t want to say the money isn’t great, but the satisfaction of winning is much more rewarding.”