As RuPaul’s Drag Race continues to expand its empire, breaking Emmy records and elevating queer talent on global television, the stakes — and cash prizes — have never been higher. In the early seasons, a maxi challenge win earned a queen $5,000, while mini challenges brought in about $2,500.
But once the show strutted into its All Stars format, cash tips for lip-sync winners rose to $10,000, sometimes even rolling over from week to week. The original grand prize — $100,000 — stood for nearly a decade.
But that all changed in Season 14, when it leaped to $150,000. On All Stars 7, the all-winners season, the crown came with a dazzling $200,000. With more seasons, more twists, and more lip syncs than ever before, some queens have danced their way into serious money. Here are the top earners in Drag Race herstory. We start the list with the queens who earned over $100,000. number 15 is Monét X Change, followed by Symone and Jaida Essence Hall.
Alaska, Trinity The Tuck and Raja are next on the list with over $130,000. Shea Couleé and Willow Pill step it up with over $150,000. In the upper earning ranks, Nymphia Wind, Sasha Colby, Onya Nurve, Jimbo and Alyssa Edwards exceed $200,000.
Who are the top tier queens? Ginger Minj is just shy of the top spot with over $290,000, and the queen who reigns supreme is none other than Jinkx Monsoon, with an incredible $332,500 in total earnings. From lip syncs to legacy, these queens prove that charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent — really do pay.
