Winner and Prize Overview
Squid Game Season 1 was won by 33-year-old actor Lee Jung-jae, who played Player 001. The competition awarded a top prize of ₩45.6 billion (about US$38.3 million at the time), paid entirely from the production budget and not by the show’s production company. The series’ finale aired on Netflix on September 17, 2021. Below are the verified details about the winner, prize, and final episode outcome.
Confirmed Winner Details
Player Identity and Performance
Lee Jung-jae portrayed Player 001, an older man who forms a close bond with Ali Abdul (Player 106) and Gi-hun. His performance was noted for emotional depth and vulnerability, contributing to the series’ strong character-driven storytelling.
Victory and Prize Money
Lee Jung-jae’s character survived until the last round and ultimately “won” the deadly games within the narrative, taking the ₩45.6 billion prize. This amount was funded by the show’s production budget, and no external entity bankrolled the prize as a narrative device.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Winner Name | Lee Jung-jae (Player 001) | Cast and official credits |
| Character Number | 001 | Episode credits and on-screen designation |
| Prize Money | ₩45.6 billion (~US$38.3 million in 2021) | Netflix press materials and production budget reporting |
| Episode of Victory | Episode 9, released September 17, 2021 | Netflix release schedule |
| Production Company | Siren Pictures | Company filings and credits |
How the Winner Was Determined
Within the series, players competed through a series of childhood games with lethal stakes; elimination occurred when players failed a game or chose to leave. In the finale, Player 001 and Player 218 (Kang Sae-byeok) reached the final game of marbles. Player 001 won the marbles game and the prize, while Player 218 died in the attempt to leave. The outcome was scripted as part of the show’s planned narrative arc.
Notable Outcomes and Aftermath
- In-story: The winner received the cash prize and left the island.
- Behind the scenes: Lee Jung-jae’s performance and the show’s critique of inequality and debt-driven societies contributed to its global impact.
- The series sparked renewed interest in survival-format storytelling and remakes in multiple languages.
Actor and Character Context
Lee Jung-jae is a celebrated South Korean actor with a film and television background spanning more than two decades. His casting as the elderly Player 001 added a layer of pathos and moral complexity, as the character balances frailty with quiet resilience. This role became a career milestone and expanded his international recognition.
Common Misconceptions Clarified
Some viewers assume the prize was company-funded marketing or that the winner shared the reward in real life. In the show’s fiction, the prize came from the organizer’s opaque wealth. In reality, the prize money represented a narrative device funded by the production budget, consistent with the series’ themes of inequality and desperation.
Long-Term Influence and Legacy
Squid Game Season 1 remains one of Netflix’s most-watched non-English series. Its themes of debt, class disparity, and desperation resonated globally, and Lee Jung-jae’s portrayal continues to be referenced in discussions about economic anxiety and survival entertainment. The show’s visual style and game format influenced subsequent reality and scripted series worldwide.
Quick Comparison: Season 1 Finale Outcome
- Winner: Lee Jung-jae (Player 001)
- Runner-up: Player 218 (Kang Sae-byeok)
- Prize: ₩45.6 billion (≈US$38.3 million in 2021)
- Winning game: Marbles (final round)
- Episode: 9, released September 17, 2021
These details reflect the canonical conclusion of the first season as presented in the series and confirmed by production sources.