Thai Teen Nene Royal Wins America's Got Talent Season 21
Thai teen Nene Royal, 16, won America's Got Talent Season 21, claiming a $1 million prize and the chance to perform in Las Vegas after impressing judges with her rendition of Seven Nation Army.
Cheers erupted across Thailand as 16-year-old Nene Royal from Phuket won the championship of America's Got Talent Season 21, creating global history. She collapsed to the stage floor in overwhelming joy as screams filled the venue.
On September 24 Thai time, NBC broadcast the results of America's Got Talent Season 21, announcing that Nene Royal had successfully claimed the championship. She fell to the stage floor in extreme happiness amid roaring applause.
In her final performance during the previous night's finale, Nene performed the legendary song Seven Nation Army, impressing audiences worldwide. Her performance video accumulated millions of views.
Before the championship announcement, Nene also impressed by performing with legendary rock band Linkin Park on their 2024 song The Emptiness Machine, leaving even the iconic band themselves amazed.
The grand prize is worth 1 million US dollars, or approximately 33 million baht. The winner receives the prize in one of two ways under US law and financial regulations.
First is the annuity payout option, where the winner receives the full 1 million US dollars split into annual installments of 25,000 US dollars (approximately 830,000 baht) over 40 years, not including annual income tax and other US taxes.
Second is the lump sum payout option. If the winner wants all funds immediately, the show calculates payment based on present cash value, reducing the amount to approximately 300,000 to 430,000 US dollars (roughly 9.9 to 14.2 million baht) before taxes.
Furthermore, as a foreign resident without US residency, the prize money is subject to US IRS withholding tax at 30 percent plus additional local taxes, significantly reducing the net amount the winner receives.
The AGT champion also receives a significant opportunity to perform in Las Vegas, representing a major professional opportunity in world-class entertainment with substantial long-term value.