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The Ultimate Love Island Heist: Has Anyone EVER Kept The £100k Prize? (The Shocking Truth Behind The Split-or-Steal Twist)

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For years, the "Love Island" final has dangled a tantalizing question over the heads of the winning couple: Will they choose love, or will they steal the money? It’s the ultimate reality TV test of genuine connection, and as of today, December 12, 2025, the answer to whether any contestant has ever betrayed their partner and kept the entire £100,000 (or $100,000 for the US version) prize fund is a resounding, definitive *no*. Every single winning couple across all major franchises has chosen to split the prize, proving that the fear of public backlash and the promise of a lucrative post-villa career far outweigh the temptation of a short-term cash grab. The dramatic "split or steal" twist is designed to inject one last shot of high-stakes drama into the finale, but it has repeatedly failed to produce a villain. This article dives deep into the history of the prize money decision, reveals the true value of "choosing love," and lists every winning couple who opted to share the wealth.

The Definitive List of Love Island Winners Who Chose to Split the Prize

The prize money for the winning couple in *Love Island UK* is £50,000, while *Love Island USA* offers a $100,000 prize. In both cases, the final decision involves one partner receiving an envelope containing the full amount and being given the choice to "split" the money with their partner or "steal" it for themselves. The following list includes the most recent winners who all made the same choice: to split the money.
  • Mimii Ngulube & Josh Oyinsan (Love Island UK, 2024): The newest UK winners, Mimii and Josh, continued the tradition by splitting the £50,000 prize, cementing their status as a beloved couple.
  • Molly Smith & Tom Clare (Love Island: All Stars, 2024): As the first winners of the All Stars edition, they also chose to split the £50,000, proving that even returning islanders prioritize their public image and relationship.
  • Jess Harding & Sammy Root (Love Island UK, Summer 2023): The summer 2023 champions shared the £50,000 prize.
  • Amaya Espinal & Bryan Arenales (Love Island USA, Season 7): The most recent US winners, Amaya and Bryan, were crowned champions and, without hesitation, split the $100,000 prize.
  • Kai Fagan & Sanam Harrinanan (Love Island UK, Winter 2023): The fan-favorite couple from the winter series also chose to split the £50,000.
  • Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu & Davide Sanclimenti (Love Island UK, 2022): One of the most iconic couples in the show's history, they upheld the tradition and split the £50,000.
  • Liam Reardon & Millie Court (Love Island UK, 2021): Despite a dramatic journey, the couple split the £50,000 in the finale.
  • Justine Ndiba & Caleb Corprew (Love Island USA, Season 2): They were the first US winners to walk away with the $100,000 and, like all others, split it.

The pattern is clear: from the very first winners, Jess Hayes and Max Morley in 2015, up to the most recent champions, the result has always been the same—a split prize fund. The social pressure and long-term career implications are simply too high to risk a dramatic betrayal.

The Real Prize: Why £50k/£100k is Not Worth The Steal

The central mystery of the "split or steal" twist is not *if* someone will do it, but *why* no one ever has. The answer lies in the economics of post-villa life. For a successful *Love Island* contestant, the prize money is a drop in the ocean compared to the potential earnings from brand deals, endorsements, and social media influencing.

The Influencer Economy and Brand Suicide

The moment a contestant chooses to "steal" the money, they instantly become a villain in the eyes of the public. This is a form of "brand suicide" in the modern influencer economy. The public's affection is the true currency of the show. Losing that affection means losing millions of potential followers, which translates directly into losing high-value contracts with fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands.

As one former contestant, Olivia Attwood, admitted, the prize money itself is practically irrelevant to the winners. A successful winner can easily make the £50,000 or $100,000 in a matter of weeks or months through paid posts and appearances, making the risk of being labeled a greedy traitor not worth the reward. The prize is less about the cash and more about the final, dramatic confirmation of a "genuine" relationship, which is the key to unlocking the lucrative celebrity status after the show.

The Evolution of the Prize Money Twist

In a significant change that confirms the twist's lack of real-world impact, *Love Island UK* producers have quietly removed the "split or steal" option from recent seasons. A source close to the show revealed that in the 2023 season and beyond, the winning couple will automatically share the prize money. This decision acknowledges the consistent trend of couples choosing to split and effectively removes the pressure of the final decision, allowing the focus to remain purely on the celebration of the winning relationship.

This format change highlights a key difference between the UK and USA versions. While *Love Island USA* (which offers $100,000) has maintained the split-or-steal drama, the UK version (with its £50,000 prize) has decided to move on, suggesting that the producers themselves realize the twist no longer serves its intended purpose of creating genuine suspense.

The Full History of Love Island UK Winners (2015–2024)

To fully appreciate the consistent choice to split the money, here is a comprehensive list of every winning couple from the main *Love Island UK* series, all of whom walked away with £25,000 each:
  • Series 1 (2015): Jess Hayes & Max Morley
  • Series 2 (2016): Cara De La Hoyde & Nathan Massey
  • Series 3 (2017): Amber Davies & Kem Cetinay
  • Series 4 (2018): Dani Dyer & Jack Fincham
  • Series 5 (2019): Amber Gill & Greg O’Shea
  • Series 6 (Winter 2020): Paige Turley & Finn Tapp
  • Series 7 (2021): Millie Court & Liam Reardon
  • Series 8 (2022): Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu & Davide Sanclimenti
  • Series 9 (Winter 2023): Kai Fagan & Sanam Harrinanan
  • Series 10 (Summer 2023): Jess Harding & Sammy Root
  • Series 11 (Summer 2024): Mimii Ngulube & Josh Oyinsan
  • Love Island: All Stars (2024): Molly Smith & Tom Clare

The list includes couples who are still together (like Cara and Nathan, who are now married with children) and those who broke up shortly after the show. Regardless of their post-villa relationship status, every single contestant who held the envelope—including Amber Gill, who won with Greg O’Shea after a very short coupling—chose to split the cash. This demonstrates that the decision is less about the strength of the romance and more about the strategic career move.

Love Island USA Winners: The $100,000 Decision

The US version offers a larger $100,000 prize, yet the outcome remains the same. The pressure to maintain a positive public image and secure lucrative US-based brand partnerships is equally, if not more, intense.
  • Season 1: Zac Mirabelli & Elizabeth Weber (Split $100,000)
  • Season 2: Justine Ndiba & Caleb Corprew (Split $100,000)
  • Season 3: Korey Gandy & Olivia Kaiser (Split $100,000)
  • Season 4: Timmy Pandolfi & Zeta Morrison (Split $100,000)
  • Season 5: Hannah Wright & Marco Donatelli (Split $100,000)
  • Season 6: Serena Page & Kordell Beckham (Split $100,000)
  • Season 7: Amaya Espinal & Bryan Arenales (Split $100,000)

In conclusion, the "split or steal" is a brilliant piece of reality television theater, but it’s a test that has never actually been failed. The contestants are savvy, recognizing that the biggest reward of winning *Love Island* is not the prize money, but the launchpad it provides for a high-earning career. By choosing love, they secure their future as marketable reality stars, proving that in the villa, good PR is worth far more than a one-time cash payout.

The Ultimate Love Island Heist: Has Anyone EVER Kept the £100k Prize? (The Shocking Truth Behind the Split-or-Steal Twist)
has anyone ever kept the 100k on love island
has anyone ever kept the 100k on love island

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