America’s Got Talent Season 21 Winner: Who is Nene Royal? Total Prize Money Explained

America’s Got Talent Season 21 has crowned Nene Royal its winner. The 16-year-old singer and guitarist from Phuket, Thailand, defeated magician Geno Ploeger in the September 23 finale after winning America’s public vote. Royal is the first Thai contestant to win the NBC talent competition. She takes home the advertised $1 million grand prize and a headline opportunity in a Las Vegas live show (via ABS-CBN).

Who Is Nene Royal, and How Did She Win America’s Got Talent Season 21?

Image credit: America’s Got Talent/Facebook

Nene Royal is the stage name of Rattikarn “Praew” Amloy, a 16-year-old guitarist, vocalist and songwriter from Phuket. Before stepping onto the AGT stage, she had already developed her musicianship through live performances around Phuket. She is also the lead vocalist and guitarist of the young rock band OZONE (via Coyote Music). Royal began learning guitar as a child and taught herself several techniques through online videos and learning songs by ear. Her local performances included appearances at Phuket’s Naka Night Market, where Coyote Music discovered OZONE after seeing Royal perform the guitar solo from Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. 

Her AGT journey began with The Cranberries’ Zombie. The performance earned four “yes” votes and sent her through to the next stage. She returned for the Judges’ Callbacks with Muse’s Hysteria, combining her vocals with guitar playing (per Thailand’s Public Relations Department). Royal’s defining moment came during the live quarterfinals. She performed Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun, bringing both her vocal range and guitar skills to the stage (via The Nation Thailand). Mel B then pressed the Live Golden Buzzer, sending Royal directly to the finale without requiring her to compete in the semifinals.

The Golden Buzzer was not the only sign that the judges saw serious potential. Howie Mandel praised Royal during her quarterfinal appearance and suggested she deserved the $1 million prize. Sofia Vergara also told the teenager that she could win the competition (via Guitar World). Royal entered the finale with The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army. Her performance kept the guitar at the center of her act while giving viewers a final chance to decide her fate. The public vote eventually put Royal ahead of Ploeger, making her the Season 21 champion. 

Her preparation for the finale also showed how much work went into the run. Royal said she practiced daily from around 5 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. while preparing for the competition. She also returned to the Naka market for a performance with OZONE before heading into the final stage of the contest (per Thai Rath).

How Much Money Does Nene Royal Win on America’s Got Talent?

Credit: America’s Got Talent/YouTube

Royal’s America’s Got Talent prize is advertised at $1 million. The winner also receives a headline opportunity in a Las Vegas live show, according to reports following the finale (via People). There is some important fine print behind that seven-figure figure. The $1 million does not necessarily arrive as one immediate cash payment. The show’s stated prize structure has historically offered the $1 million as either a financial annuity paid over 40 years or the present cash value of that annuity. At $25,000 per year, the annuity option totals $1 million before taxes.

Royal’s victory also gives the teenager something money cannot measure as neatly: a global platform. She arrived from Phuket with years of local performance experience, earned a Golden Buzzer, reached the finale and then won America’s vote. For a young musician who once performed at a Phuket market, that is quite a leap from the starting line.

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