ABC is stepping up to make sure Lucky 13 game show contestants receive the winnings they were promised.
On Wednesday, February 5, multiple outlets reported that the network is negotiating a payout exceeding $460,000 to the players who competed on the now-canceled game show.
Despite having no legal responsibility to do so, ABC has taken action following the bankruptcy of the show’s U.K. production company, Studio 1.
Studio 1’s Bankruptcy and Financial Struggles
Studio 1 CEO Adrian Woolfe addressed the situation in a statement to Deadline, explaining the financial challenges that led to the company’s bankruptcy.
“We are in the process of taking proactive protective steps to restructure the Studio 1 business and to unlock and protect the value of the now-proven Lucky 13 IP,” Woolfe said.
“Rather than it being a direct commission, the unique commercial model on which the debut series was launched in the U.S. was underpinned by advertising revenues which, given well-publicized market conditions, regrettably but unavoidably fell acutely short of forecasts.”
As a result of Studio 1’s collapse, several contractors who worked on the show, along with the 13 contestants who competed for cash prizes, have yet to receive their payments.
Inside ‘Lucky 13’ and Its Prize Money
Lucky 13 premiered in July 2024 and was hosted by Shaquille O’Neal and Gina Rodriguez. The high-stakes game show challenged contestants with 13 true-or-false trivia questions.
The twist? Each contestant had to accurately predict how many questions they would answer correctly in order to win.
The total prize money awarded to contestants amounted to $461,500. The largest individual prize was $125,000, while the smallest was $3,750.
Gina Rodriguez on Hosting and Producing ‘Lucky 13’
Rodriguez, 40, previously spoke with Us Weekly about her dual role as both host and executive producer on the series.
“I was first asked to join this project by Shaquille. I mean, who says no to Shaquille O’Neal? Not I!” she recalled in August 2024.
“But I was like, ‘This is definitely very different for me.’ It was nothing I was actually ever really interested in before Shaquille O’Neal approached me.”
Lucky 13 TV Show (Photo: ABC)Although initially uncertain, Rodriguez ultimately found a rewarding aspect of the gig: giving away money.
“I had to figure out how it was going to make sense for me because I had never really hosted before,” she explained. “For me, I was excited to give people money. So it was coming from that perspective of how do I fit into this? Oh, I want people to walk away happy and with money.”
The Challenges of Hosting Live TV
Transitioning from acting to hosting was not without its challenges for Rodriguez.
“It was vastly different from making a TV show. You are in front of a live audience,” she said. “There are 200 strangers who don’t know the industry, getting a sneak peek into the skeletal process of making anything artistic in front of the camera. It can be a little nerve-wracking.”
She also noted how demanding the filming schedule was.
“I am standing for 12 hours in heels and my feet are broken,” Rodriguez joked. “When you’re doing a TV show, there’s a lot of downtime. You set up a shot, shoot it, and then you can go work on lines, relax, or decompress.
With this, you are on from the start throughout the whole day in front of a bunch of strangers, and you do not stop. It’s like the train is out of the station and you’re holding on for dear life.”
Rodriguez and O’Neal’s Chemistry on Set
Despite the challenges, Rodriguez credited her cohost, O’Neal, 52, for making the experience enjoyable.
“What I say is improv. Most of what me and Shaq get to do is improv,” she said. “I definitely come from a comedic background, so I’m able to insert that into it, which is really fun and liberating. I don’t feel too restricted by a script.”
She added, “So much of the show is me and Shaq being us—having fun and being able to bring in both of our comedic chops.”
Cancellation and Aftermath
Despite its unique format and star-studded hosts, Lucky 13 was canceled in November 2024. With the production company now bankrupt, ABC’s intervention ensures that contestants will still receive the prize money they earned.