Squid Game: The Challenge - What The Cast Is Up To After Leaving The Show

Contains spoilers for "Squid Game: The Challenge"

Netflix's arresting and highly controversial reality series "Squid Game: The Challenge" has finally wrapped up, sending one player home with $4.56 million and the other 455 players home with permanent emotional damage (we're kidding ... we hope). As the now-former contestants readjust to life outside the dorm, fans are likely curious as to what became of their favorites from the series.

Are Phalisia and Ashley still close after the competition? Can mother-son duo LeAnn and Trey ever recover from their head-to-head Marbles match? Will Rick get that Gganbu Gang tattoo he described to his alliance? And — most importantly — when is Jada going to apologize for eating that burger?! We answer all of these questions and many more as we dig into what life looks like for some of the most memorable "Squid Game" contestants now that the grueling challenge is over.

Speaking of multi-program reality TV contestants, it was certainly surprising to recognize an alumnus from the long-running competition series "Survivor" among the early departures on "Squid Game." Jessica Lynn "Figgy" Figueroa — or Player 033, as she is better known to "Squid Game" fans — was one of 20 castaways who competed in the "Millennial vs. Gen X" season of "Survivor," finishing in 15th place.

Though Figgy outlasted several hundred more players in "Squid Game" than she did in "Survivor," she ultimately wasn't able to survive getting blown out of the water in Warships. Despite her resume, however, Figgy isn't merely a career reality contestant: She has a much more down-to-earth career. Since leaving "Squid Game," the Tennessee native has returned to teaching middle-school science full-time. She was recently recognized for being among the top 5% of science teachers in her state, in terms of student achievement and growth.

When Stephen Lomas was eliminated from "Squid Game: The Challenge," he didn't leave alone. To fully undermine the so-called Gganbu Gang, Player 229 removed both him and Player 232 — an endearing physician and apiarist named Rick Mercurio. Throughout the show's first episodes, Mercurio was an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and collaborative player who was a fan of the original "Squid Game" series and took great pride in being a part of the Gganbu Gang. Members of this alliance rallied around his kindness, which only made it all the more devastating when he was sent home with Lomas.

Since leaving the show, Mercurio has returned to his bees, all the while basking in the glory of his surprisingly prominent role in the breakout Netflix series. As he briefly mentioned in the competition, he was considering getting a large tattoo to commemorate the Gganbu Gang as part of his ever-growing tapestry of body art — and as of writing, he's already got a great-looking outline of the art on his left arm. He even got to reunite with Lomas at a Netflix event coinciding with the show's release, at which Lomas gifted him a metal friendship bracelet to match his own. Lomas had it inscribed with his player number, the image of an anchor (to symbolize how he was his team's anchor during Warships), and, of course, a bee.

Another casualty of the emotionally torturous Marbles tournament was Player 179, a strong leader and political power player who appeared to be in charge of one of the show's strongest groups — the "High Five" alliance. Her connections to other players — even those outside her alliance — stretched so wide that when Player 141 (Dash Katz) attempted to double-cross her by trying to raise awareness of her status within the game (and thereby putting a target on her back), another player eliminated him on her behalf. Had her friend Player 221 (Charles Roquemore) not hit a streak of luck during their Marbles face-off, she certainly would have been formidable in the social-focused latter half of the series.

After appearing on the show, Player 179 — real name Charlise Chaney — began opening up about her experience on the show in a series of vlogs (where she also got to show off a more relaxed persona that audiences didn't get to see much of during the competition). One fact she immediately wanted to correct was her characterization (by both Player 141 and the series) as the leader of the High Five alliance. In a YouTube short, she emphatically denies and laughs at the idea that she held this position. She has also been promoted at her place of employment, and says being on "Squid Game: The Challenge" widened her understanding of the LGBTQ+ community. "I feel extremely blessed to have my perspective shifted in such a positive way...," she told Tudum. "They my people now."

Of all the eliminations as a consequence of the Marbles game, none were quite as brutal as that of self-described "squid mom" LeAnn Plutnicki, aka Player 302. After playing a measured yet tough and driven game alongside her son, Player 301, the pair were forced to compete against each other. Though it was disappointing to have been sent home in such a way, she told Tudum that she was proud to watch her son navigate the competition in an honorable way.

Since appearing on the show, Plutnicki cheered her son on once more as he completed his first marathon (which he ran alongside Player 418, Roland). When she isn't spending time with her children or putting her athletic skills to work by teaching a fifth-grade basketball team, she takes painting lessons and attends the theater. As for the future, being on "Squid Game: The Challenge" has reignited her interest in riskier endeavors such as skydiving.

Having to eliminate anyone appeared to have been emotionally traumatizing for "Squid Game: The Challenge" contestants — but only one contestant had to eliminate their own mother. After beating his mother LeAnn Plutnicki in a game of Marbles, actor Trey Plutnicki — aka Player 301 — made it all the way to the Glass Bridge. Unfortunately, after Player 278 made the brief yet controversial move not to take part in the group's strategy, Trey was forced to make two more moves than any other player in the game. On his third jump, his luck ran out.

Though Plutnicki was disappointed that he'd been left without support in his time of need, he told Tudum after the show that he was smiling as the floor dropped out from underneath him. "I was so happy with how I did and that I was done." He has since returned his focus to his burgeoning acting career, represented by the Gray Talent Group. He also co-hosts "The Mistletoe Secret Podcast," in which he and co-host Daniel Kunkel attempt to uncover a shared universe of Hallmark Christmas movies.

If there was anyone who would have seemingly won "Squid Game: The Challenge" by sheer smarts alone, it would have been Player 018. The English contestant showed off her Mensa-level brain power early in the competition by breezing through Warships as her team's stunningly effective captain. It was ultimately cruel luck that brought her down, as a roll of six sent her home during the Die Test.

For her, going out on her own terms was the perfect way to end her "Squid Game" experience. Aside from re-dying her hair (from the fittingly squidy green to a groovy pink and purple hue), not much has seemingly changed for the video game designer better known as Bee Dee. She did tell Tudum that being looked over by so many men throughout the competition made her want to reevaluate how women and non-binary people are treated in more important social environments.

One of the show's most powerful friendships proved to be that of Bee Dee and Amanda Taylor, aka Player 019. Also hailing from the UK, Taylor served as Bee's lieutenant in their game of Warships, and spearheaded the formation of a much-needed all-female alliance that ensured the endgame of the series wasn't dominated by one gender. She made it to the final formal game of the series, Circle of Trust, in which she was eliminated.

Taylor's post-show exploits have included traveling to Florida (where she and her kids went to Disney World), climbing the Eiffel Tower, and partying with Bee. Her time on the series also netted her an appearance at For the Love of Sci-Fi, a pop-culture convention hosted in Manchester. She served as a panelist talking about the series, alongside Player 200 (Mothi B.) and Player 039 (Anthony Taylor).

Having played a relatively quiet game, gentle giant Sam Lantz — aka Player 016 — made it to the top three. However, during a final test of fortune to decide which two players would compete in the final game for the $4.56 million prize, he was suddenly sent home by the press of a button.

But while his end was certainly a shocking and tragic one, Lantz says the whole experience gave him a more positive view of humanity. Despite what may have been played up for the sake of dramatic entertainment, he told Tudum that the majority of people "chose paths that were fair and equal." In addition to working out a ton, Lantz has focused on launching his company Bear Giant, which sells facial hair care products inclusive of both cis and trans men.

After weeks of competition, emotional and physical struggle, and mental focus, there was only one winner of "Squid Game: The Challenge" — Mai Whelan, now known to fans across the world as the victorious Player 287. In later tests more focused on social engineering and behavioral analysis, the Department of Homeland Security adjudicator shined — especially her final games of Rock Paper Scissors, in which she consistently deduced Phill Cain's moves to win more chances to find the key.

Since winning the $4.56 million prize, however, Whelan has vanished from public life once more. Though she's done the TV appearances likely required of her by Netflix as promotion for the series, she keeps her personal life private and far away from social media. She is reportedly enjoying not having to worry about being eliminated, while feeling stronger than ever for having made it through such an ordeal as a champion. And though she has yet to receive her prize money from Netflix after almost a year, she told The Sunday Times that, when she does, she will be donating to charities that fight wealth inequality and climate change.