Image courtesy NBC.
Twelve-year-old songwriter and self-taught ukulele player Grace VanderWaal has won Season 11 of America’s Got Talent. The $1 million prize money, however, won’t be burning a hole in her pocket anytime soon.
America’s Got Talent bills its grand prize as “One million dollars and a headlining show in Las Vegas.” However, the pre-teen could be eligible to become an AARP member before she sees the full amount. As FORBES noted in a past season, America’s Got Talent’s $1,000,000 prize is actually paid out as a 40-year long annuity, where the winner gets an annual pre-tax payout of $25,000 per year for 40 years.
VanderWaal may be offered a lump-sum cash payment in lieu of the annuity, but it will be a fraction of the advertised prize—likely in the $300,000 pre-tax range, putting the 12-year-old performer’s total post-tax take home in the $150,000 – $200,000 range. Luckily, ukuleles start at around $30, so she’ll no longer have to save up her birthday money to buy instruments.
She won’t have to wait 40 years for the Vegas show, either. VanderWaal will headline shows at the PH Showroom at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Oct. 27, 28 and 29. She will be joined by fellow contestants The Clairvoyants (a psychic act) and prop-mime comedian Tape Face.
VanderWaal was a standout contestant all season. She received the “Golden Buzzer,” a fast-pass through the audition process, by judge Howie Mandel at her first audition. Simon Cowell called her “the next Taylor Swift,” praising her ability to construct melodies and her unique vocal stylings.
Her audition video has been viewed more than 35 million times on YouTube and inspired thousands of cover versions of the original song she wrote for the occasion, “You Don’t Know My Name.” The middle schooler continued to write original songs for each subsequent performance on the season, garnering praise from the judges and viewers for her artistry week after week.
