New York Father/Daughter Duo Score Biggest Win on ‘The Wall’ With $1.4 Million
A father/daughter duo from Western New York is the biggest winner on NBC's 'The Wall,' taking home over $1 million. What will they do with all their new found winnings?
Kirk and Brook Spangler of Allegany County competed on the game show Monday, February 5th but their episode was taped in April 2017 and they've had to keep it a secret all this time. "It was the biggest secret I've ever had to keep and I'm telling you what 10 months is a long time to keep a secret like that," says Brooke.
Playing the game was just as nerve wracking as trying to keep everything quiet so long. "I was shaking so bad," explains Brooke. "I kept swallowing because my mouth was so dry. But the end was the worst because I honestly thought my dad signed the contract."
He's not going to retire as many thought he would. He's probably going to work the 2 years he has left and then buy himself a new vehicle since his has 290,000 miles on it.
The Spangler family had a guarantee of $95,023 if the contract was signed, over $1.4 million if dad tore it up. "I knew the right thing to do was sign that contract but I tore it up," Kirk told his daughter.
Waiting to hear Kirk's decision was the hardest part for Brooke. "They tell you not to react when he tells you if he signed or ripped up the contract until you say something. I was like 'oh my gosh what.' Because I wanted to freak out. How does somebody not freak out? I wanted to just scream."
As nerve wracking as it was for Brooke, she says it was worse for her dad. "Him not knowing how we were doing on the stage and him having to make the decision because he had no idea how much we had, I would not want to be in that position."
Kirk is a single father of 2 daughters who has worked at SUNY Geneseo for 25 years. Many assumed he'd retire after winning all that money but Brooke says he's going to keep going. "He's not going to retire as many thought he would. He's probably going to work the 2 years he has left and then buy himself a new vehicle since his has 290,000 miles on it. It's on its last legs. He's ready for a new car."
The Spanglers became the biggest winners in The Wall history host Chris Hardwick called it "one of the happiest episodes I think I've ever experienced on The Wall."
Watch the winning moment above or see the entire episode below or at NBC.com.