The Challenge Season 42, aka The Challenge: Cutthroat, is in the books, with all episodes now streaming on Paramount+. The grueling, two-part finale, “The Final – Part 1” and “The Final – Part 2,” features a final standoff between the Orange and Gray teams. If you haven’t seen the episodes, then beware of spoilers ahead!
All clear? Here we go …
The winner of The Challenge Season 42 is the Orange team, with Tori Deal, Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, C.T. Tamburello, Michele Fitzgerald, and Will Gagnon. The Orange team took home a combined purse of $550,000, which was basically split between the five members of the squad.
Read on to get more information on the final results and how to stream The Challenge.
Key facts
- Winners: Orange team (Tori Deal, Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, C.T. Tamburello, Michele Fitzgerald, Will Gagnon)
- Runners-up: Gray team (Adrienne Naylor, Cara Maria Sorbello, Cassidy Clark. Alexis Lete)
- Finale air date: Oct. 28, 2026 (“The Final – Part 2,” The Challenge Season 42, Episode 14)
- Grand prize: $500,000 with $50,000 in bonuses for a total of $550,000
- Location: Thailand
- Host: T.J. Lavin
- Streaming: Paramount+
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Watch NowWho won The Challenge Season 42?
The winner of The Challenge: Cutthroat is the Orange team, which consists of captain Tori Deal, along with Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, C.T. Tamburello, Michele Fitzgerald, and Will Gagnon.
The Orange team was able to outlast and defeat the Gray team after finishing ahead of their opponents on the first day of the final, which gave the Orange team a 10-minute head start on Day Two. That advantage proved insurmountable for the underdog Gray squad.
The Orange team secured a winning purse of $500,000, plus a bonus of $50,000 for a total of $550,000. The Orange team earned a pair of $25,000 bonuses after Deal won an elimination round against mercenary Sarah Rice in an earlier episode, as well as finding the $25,000 bonus during The Challenge: Cutthroat final.
Deal was the captain of the team, and had the power to dole out the $550,000 how she saw fit. She split the purse equally between the five members of the Orange team, with one exception: She took a $1 “captain’s fee” from each of the other four. This gave her a total of $110,004, while the other members received $109,999 each.
Who made it to the final?
The Challenge Season 42 comes down to two teams: Orange and Gray.
Here are the results of The Challenge: Cutthroat:
- First place: Orange — Tori Deal (captain), Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, C.T. Tamburello, Michele Fitzgerald, Will Gagnon
- Second place: Gray — Adrienne Naylor (captain), Cara Maria Sorbello, Cassidy Clark, Alexis Lete
There were no eliminations or disqualifications in The Challenge Season 42 final. Although, C.T. Tamburello did have to be medically checked during day one of the final. He was subsequently cleared to return to the competition.
How much money did the winners receive?
The Orange team took home a total purse of $550,000, while the Gray team pocketed $25,000.
The Orange team earned a winning purse of $500,000 along with a bonus of $50,000 for a total of $550,000. The Orange team earned a pair of $25,000 bonuses after Deal defeated mercenary Sarah Rice in an earlier episode. Johnny Bananas discovered the other $25,000 bonus during The Challenge: Cutthroat final.
Deal was the captain of the team, and had the power to dole out the $550,000 how she saw fit. She basically split the purse equally between the five members of the Orange team. But she also took a $1, so-called “captain’s fee” from each of the other four, giving her a winnings total of $110,004 to her teammates’ $109,999 each.
For the Gray team, Naylor awarded herself $10,000, while the other three members of the squad took home $5,000.
What made this season different?
The Challenge Season 42 was the first season of the franchise’s flagship show to be a Paramount+ original. Previous seasons originally aired on MTV (with many now streaming on Paramount+).
The Challenge: Cutthroat format was also different from previous entries as the 24 contestants were split into three teams: Orange, Gray, and Blue. While previous seasons have featured a team format, it’s rare for that format to last the entire season.
This season also marked multiple notable victories. Johnny Bananas notched a record-high eighth The Challenge championship. His long-time rival C.T. Tamburello won his sixth championship.
Where to watch The Challenge Season 42
You can watch The Challenge Season 42 from beginning to end on Paramount+. All episodes are available to binge-watch now on demand.
Select previous seasons of The Challenge are also available to stream on Paramount+. Get our guide to all the shows of The Challenge franchise you can watch here.
FAQs
Who were the runners-up on The Challenge Season 42?
The runners-up on The Challenge Season 42 were the members of the Gray team, which consisted of Adrienne Naylor, Cara Maria Sorbello, Cassidy Clark, and Alexis Lete.
Where was The Challenge Season 42 filmed?
The Challenge Season 42 was filmed in Thailand.
Who hosted The Challenge Season 42?
The Challenge Season 42 was hosted by T.J. Lavin.
Will there be a Season 43 of The Challenge?
Season 43 of The Challenge has not been announced yet.
