ABC Steps In to PayLucky 13Players Over $460K in Winnings After Game Show Hosted by Gina Rodriguez and Shaq Goes Under

Mar. 15, 2025

(L) Gina Rodriguez and Shaquille O’Neal host ‘Lucky 13’.Photo:Ronda Churchill/Disney

Ronda Churchill/Disney

ABC is stepping in to save the day.

PEOPLE can confirm that the network is in negotiations to payLucky 13game show contestants more than $460,000 — despite having no legal obligation to do so.Deadlinewas first to report the news.

(L-R) Gina Rodriguez, contestant Ty Brazeal and Shaquille O’Neal on ‘Lucky 13’.Ronda Churchill/Disney

Lucky 13challenged its contestants to answer 13 true-or-false trivia questions, but with a cunning twist: they must accurately predict how many of the questions they answer correctly in order to take home the $1 million jackpot.

The game show aired on ABC in July 2024. According toDeadline, Studio 1 pre-funded the now-defunct series in exchange for a piece of the network’s advertising and product placement sales, but their projected revenue fell short whenLucky 13failed to be renewed for a second season.

Shortly after, Studio 1’s special purpose companies, Lucky 13 Holdings and Studio 13 Entertainment, declared bankruptcy.

Per the outlet, several contractors, including O’Neal and Rodriguez, have yet to receive payment for their work. The 13 contestants who participated in the game show also have yet to be paid their winnings.

The contestants were awarded prizes totaling $461,500, with the biggest being $125,000 and the smallest being $3,750.Deadline’s sources reported the participants should have received their winnings within 120 days of being on the show.

Reps for O’Neal and Rodriguez did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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Woolfe created the show and also served as showrunner. Production on the series wrapped in June, and the final episode ofLucky 13aired on Sept. 19, 2024.

source: people.com