Now in the dramatic world of Bigg Boss Tamil Season 9, one of our most successful contenders and that of our biggest and brightest TV personalities Gana Vinoth has finally decided to leave the house. With just five days until January 18, 2026, the grand finale, Vinoth accepted a prize of ₹18 lakh, ending his journey as a potential title winner.
The "Money Box" Twist
Vinoth has announced that he will be leaving the show with a guaranteed sum instead of competing for the title of "Bigg Boss Tamil Season 9." The penultimate week of Bigg Boss makes it all-important for contestants in the final round to face the final showdown. And so, this season, with the versatility of Vijay Sethupathi as host, the "Cash Box" task saw the prize amount accumulate gradually over several hours.
At ₹18 lakh as the offering rate stood, Gana Vinoth opted to take the guaranteed sum instead of the gamble of taking everything with the winner’s prize of ₹50 lakh. Numerous fans were cheering for him to win, but Vinoth’s choice has prompted a massive debate on social media. Some people call those steps a “masterstroke” in terms of financial planning; others are devastated that their beloved “Title Winner material” gave up so close to the finish line.
The math: How much did Gana Vinoth make in total?
Vinoth’s ₹18 lakh cash prize is the headline, but his in-house take-home figure significantly exceeds the cash prize when combined with his daily appearance fee. According to industry reports:
- Each Episode: Approximately ₹29,000 per day.
- Stay Duration: 95 days.
- Accumulated Salary: ₹27.55 lakh.
- Cash Box Prize: ₹18.00 lakh.
- Total Estimated Earnings: ₹45.55 lakh.
However, this total closely correlates with the winner's grand prize of ₹50 lakh (which has much higher taxes), which appears to be a financially sound decision in the eyes of several experts.
“Love Over Title”: Feelings
Gana Vinoth’s wife Bakkiya, who wrote a touching message on social media after his exit, said, "Your love is bigger than a title." Indeed, Vinoth reflected on this, saying to his fans, although he had missed the trophy, the warmth he had gained from the public was what made him most fulfilled.
But others have blamed fellow contestant Aurora, saying she had influenced his decision during late-night talks. Vinoth is still a beloved fan favorite in the wake of the controversies; here's a look at the reasons why fans love him despite all the trouble: his irreverent humor and "Gana" singing skill. The Last Race: Who wins? The current finalists will struggle for the Season 9 trophy, since they miss out on the champion:
- Aurora Sinclair
- Divya Ganesh
- Sandra
- Vikkals Vikram
- Sabarinathan
With the impending Jan 18 final, the house is now more competitive than ever. Is one of these finalists going to become the next Tamil Nadu household name?
