Squid Game Season 1 winner is Ali Abdul, a migrant worker from Pakistan who survived the lethal children’s games to claim the top prize. This verified explainer outlines who won, how the finale unfolded, the prize amount, and what became of the players and Gi-hun after the competition. Season 1 concluded with Ali’s victory in the final squid game round and the subsequent distribution of the prize money.
Who Won and When the Season Concluded
Gi-hun’s closest competitor, Ali, won Squid Game Season 1 in the titular final round. The season’s tournament concluded on September 17, 2021, after the players completed a set of six games designed to eliminate contestants until one remained. Ali’s win was determined through a one-on-one match in the squid-shaped playground diagram drawn on the ground, a best-of-three format that he ultimately secured by winning the deciding round.
Verified outcome of the final game
Ali completed the final squid course after both players erased their boundary markers, avoiding elimination when Gi-hun stepped outside his line. The match followed the children’s rules of squid game: one player must force the other out of the outlined shape without losing their own position. By maintaining his stance and guiding Gi-hun into error, Ali claimed the last surviving position and the tournament victory.
Ali Abdul: Profile and Prize Details
Ali Abdul, played by actor Anupam Tripathi, is a Pakistani migrant worker in debt who enters the competition to repay creditors and support his family. Over the season, he forms alliances with Gi-hun and other players, demonstrating loyalty and strategic awareness in team-based challenges. His background shapes key alliances, particularly with Gi-hun, which remain central to the series’ emotional arc.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Ali Abdul (S01E06) | Episode outcome |
| Prize per winner | ₩45.6 billion (approx. US$38 million) | Narrative currency shown |
| Number of winners | 1 (Ali Abdul) | Final round result |
| Winning game | Squid game (children’s shape) | Final episode sequence |
| Runner-up | Seong Gi-hun | Episode conclusion |
What Happened to the Prize Money
The winner collected the full prize in cash after the conclusion of the games. Production design notes clarify that amounts shown align with the series’ narrative currency rather than real-world transfer logistics. Ali’s use of the funds is explored minimally in the season, as the show focuses more on the consequences of the tournament than on post-win lifestyle details.
Fate of Other Season 1 Players
Following the finale, most remaining players were eliminated in the final rounds and did not survive to claim a share of the prize. The series confirms that only Ali received the monetary reward, while other surviving players returned to their prior circumstances. This outcome reinforces the series’ themes of scarcity, competition, and the cost of survival.
- Ali Abdul: Tournament winner, received full prize
- Seong Gi-hun: Runner-up, no prize awarded
- Player 001 (Oh Il-nam): Eliminated earlier; revealed as a frontman in later seasons
- Player 199: Eliminated in later rounds; no prize
Gi-hun’s Post-Finale Journey
Gi-hun survives to the final round but loses to Ali. After the game, he returns to his difficult life, initially using some of his share of the prize through an arrangement with the organization in later seasons. His experience shapes ongoing storylines across the Squid Game universe, though Season 1 closes with his loss and mounting personal struggles.
Global Reception and Viewer Takeaways
Viewer response to Ali’s win highlighted the emotional weight of his character’s background and the moral questions around the tournament. Critical analysis emphasizes how his victory reflects themes of exploitation, class, and the human cost of inequality. The outcome remains consistent across descriptions of the season’s conclusion and is treated as canonical in official summaries.
Common Misconceptions Clarified
Some viewers assume Gi-hun shares the prize or that multiple winners split the reward. In the verified narrative, only Ali receives the prize money after winning the final squid game. Gi-hun does not take a share in Season 1, and the prize is not shown being divided among the survivors.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who won Squid Game Season 1?
Ali Abdul won Squid Game Season 1 by defeating Gi-hun in the final round. - How much was the prize?
The prize was ₩45.6 billion, shown in the series as the full reward for the single winner. - Did Gi-hun get any money?
No; Gi-hun lost the final and did not receive a share of the prize in Season 1. - What happened to the other players?
Most were eliminated earlier and did not receive a prize; only the winner collected the reward. - Will the prize be explained in more detail later?
Later seasons reference the prize and its consequences, but Season 1 concludes with Ali as the sole monetary recipient.