The 7 Most Shocking Ways The Price Is Right Contestants Lost Their Dream Car (And The One Who Won After A Total Loss)

The Price Is Right is a game show built on the simple premise of guessing prices, yet the stakes—especially when a brand-new car is on the line—can lead to some of the most dramatic and heartbreaking moments in television history. Every contestant dreams of driving away in a shiny new vehicle, but for many, that dream quickly turns into a viral clip of pure agony. The sheer excitement of being on Contestants' Row and the pressure of the studio audience can cause even the most level-headed player to make a costly error, often losing a prize worth tens of thousands of dollars. As of late 2025, the stories of contestants losing their dream car continue to captivate viewers, fueling countless online debates about strategy, luck, and the psychological weight of the game. From being off by a single digit in the "Lucky Seven" game to making a disastrous decision in "Switcheroo," the ways a contestant can lose are as varied as the prizes themselves. However, a recent, uplifting story involving a contestant named Antoinette has flipped the script, proving that sometimes, the universe—or at least the show—can deliver a much-needed second chance.

Recent Car Loss Drama and The Ultimate Second Chance

The narrative of "The Price Is Right" contestant losing a car is usually one of immediate, televised heartbreak. However, the most compelling recent story is a twist on this classic fail, proving that the game show can sometimes offer redemption.

The Emotional Redemption of Antoinette (2025 Hyundai Elantra SE)

In a truly heartwarming and unforgettable moment that aired in 2025, contestant Antoinette shared a deeply personal story with host Drew Carey. She revealed that she had recently lost her own vehicle after it was totaled in a devastating accident. The emotional weight of her loss was palpable, setting the stage for a dramatic segment. When it came time for Antoinette to play for a car, the pressure was immense. She played a challenging pricing game and, against the odds, managed to win a brand-new 2025 Hyundai Elantra SE. The victory was not just a game show win; it was a profound personal moment of closure and a much-needed replacement for her lost transportation. Her emotional reaction and the host's genuine happiness for her quickly went viral, becoming a powerful counter-narrative to the typical "car loss" drama that dominates highlight reels. This incident highlights the high emotional stakes of the show and provides a fresh, positive perspective on the car-winning experience.

The 7 Most Common and Shocking Ways Contestants Lose Their Car

While Antoinette’s story is one of redemption, the vast majority of viral clips focus on the devastating near-misses and costly blunders. The primary way contestants lose a car is by failing to correctly guess the price of the vehicle within the specific rules of a particular pricing game. Here are the most common and shocking ways a contestant walks away empty-handed.

1. The Single-Digit Disaster in Lucky Seven

"Lucky Seven" is one of the most iconic and nerve-wracking car games. The contestant starts with seven dollars and must guess the seven-digit price of the car. The first digit is given, and for each subsequent digit, the contestant guesses a number. If the guess is higher than the actual digit, they lose a dollar. If they run out of money before correctly guessing the final digit, they lose the car. The most gut-wrenching losses occur when the contestant is off by just one number on the final digit, running out of money and collapsing in horror on stage. This game is a masterclass in risk management and precision.

2. The Hasty Decision in Plinko-Style Games

Some car games, or games where a car is a potential prize, involve a mix of cash and "Lose Everything" symbols hidden under various options. In a game like "Punch a Bunch" or other similar pick-a-spot games, a contestant might have the opportunity to secure a cash prize but choose to risk it all for the car. One viral incident involved a contestant who had a chance to secure a cash prize but made a hasty decision to keep playing, only to reveal a "Lose Everything" symbol, forfeiting all their winnings, including the potential for a car. The pressure of the moment often leads to poor judgment.

3. Asking the Audience for Help

It is a common sight: the contestant, overwhelmed by the pressure, turns to the studio audience for help. While the audience's enthusiasm is part of the show's charm, their collective advice is often unreliable, leading to a catastrophic loss. One contestant’s loss of a car was directly attributed to following the audience's incorrect advice on a pricing choice, an error that cost her the vehicle and became a classic example of "the audience curse."

4. The Switcheroo Catastrophe

"Switcheroo" is a game that tests a contestant's memory and pricing knowledge across a variety of small prizes and a car. The contestant must correctly place the last digit of the car's price and the prices of five smaller items. The challenge is that they only get one chance to "switch" the digits after their initial placement. One contestant playing for a $20,000 prize and a car only had two prices correct on the second try after their "Switcheroo," a dramatic fail that fans found shocking due to the seemingly obvious pricing of the small items like an ice cream maker or a calculator.

5. The Unbelievable 'Guessed Everything Correctly' Loss

One of the most mind-boggling stories circulating in fan communities involves a contestant who allegedly lost a car *after* guessing every price correctly. While the exact details of the game and the rules technicality are often debated, the core of the story highlights the complex and sometimes unforgiving rules of the pricing games. It serves as a stark reminder that simply knowing the price is not always enough; mastery of the game's mechanics is also essential.

6. The Emotional Collapse After Near-Misses

While not a *way* to lose the car, the emotional fallout is a key part of the drama. Contestants often fall to their knees, collapse, or nearly break down when they realize they have missed the price by a tiny margin. This visceral reaction—the immediate shift from elation to despair—is what makes these losses so compelling to watch and discuss, emphasizing the high-stakes reality of the game show environment.

7. The Clock Running Out in Fast-Paced Games

Some games, such as "Block Party" or "Time is Money," involve a time limit, requiring the contestant to rapidly guess prices and arrange them correctly. In a game like "Block Party," the player is given 30 seconds to place blocks in the right spots after guessing the price of the car and several small items. The time pressure often leads to rushed decisions and errors, resulting in a loss of the car simply because the contestant could not complete the task before the clock hit zero, a truly frustrating way to miss out on the grand prize.

The Psychology of the Price Tag: Why Contestants Fail

The common thread in all these losses is the intense psychological pressure. When a contestant is on the stage with Drew Carey, facing a live audience and millions of viewers at home, cognitive function can be significantly impaired. This is often referred to as "game show brain." The value of a new car is substantial, often ranging from $25,000 to over $50,000, and the pressure to win it can cause contestants to overthink simple pricing or second-guess their initial, often correct, instincts. The complexity of the pricing games, which require not just pricing knowledge but also strategy, memory, and risk assessment, exacerbates this pressure. The difference between winning a 2025 Hyundai Elantra SE and walking away with nothing often comes down to a split-second decision under duress. The enduring popularity of "The Price Is Right" is a testament to this human drama—the universal hope of winning big and the relatable agony of a high-stakes failure.