Ben McDonnell’s net worth hasn’t been made public, and he hasn’t shared what he earns from barrel racing, acting or podcasting. What is on record is that he is a 34-year-old barrel racer from Granbury, Texas, who is competing on NBC’s The Traitors: New Blood for a prize fund worth up to $250,000. He is playing as a Faithful and was still in the castle as of Episode 5.
Ben McDonnell Net Worth: What We Know
No outlet we found has reported a confirmed net worth for McDonnell. We also found no public earnings record for his rodeo, acting or podcasting work, and NBC hasn’t said what contestants are paid to appear on the show.
The one money figure tied to his current gig is the prize fund. It is built up through missions and can reach $250,000, but nothing has been won yet, and the Faithful only share it if every Traitor is banished.
Until a reliable outlet publishes a verified figure, the honest answer is that his net worth is not publicly disclosed.
Ben McDonnell Salary: What Athletes Typically Earn
McDonnell hasn’t disclosed his income. To give you a reference point, here is typical pay for athletes in the U.S. This is typical pay for the job, not his confirmed pay.
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage, athletes and sports competitors, May 2024 | $62,360 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
That figure covers all athletes and sports competitors, not rodeo or barrel racing specifically, so treat it as a general guide only.
Here is what we know about the Traitors prize money. None of it has been awarded yet.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum prize fund | Up to $250,000 (NBC) |
| Prize pot at the start of Episode 4 | $65,000 |
| Bonus for each Traitor banished | An extra $15,000 added to the pot |
| If every Traitor is banished | Remaining Faithful share the fund |
| If any Traitor survives to the end | The surviving Traitor(s) take it all |
Who Is Ben McDonnell?
NBC lists McDonnell as a 34-year-old barrel racer from Granbury, Texas. Marie Claire’s cast guide adds that he is also an actor and a podcaster, and it lists his Instagram as @mcdonnellben.
Barrel racing is a timed rodeo event in which a rider guides a horse around a cloverleaf pattern of three barrels. Beyond his cast bio, little about his rodeo career is public. We found no published results, rankings or sponsorship deals for him, so we’re not guessing at what he earns from it.
For another rodeo competitor who landed on a reality show, see our Rylie Jeffries net worth profile on the Big Brother 27 bull rider.
Ben McDonnell on The Traitors: New Blood
The Traitors: New Blood is the first all-civilian season of the U.S. show. It premiered on NBC on September 17, 2026, with 22 everyday Americans picked from more than 80,000 applicants. Alan Cumming hosts, and each episode streams on Peacock the next day.
NBC’s cast listing gave McDonnell the self-declared superlative “The Social Butterfly.” In his pre-season interview he said being a Gemini gave him a split personality that would help him befriend everyone in the castle. He said he wanted to be a Traitor but entered the game as a Faithful.
His casting profile also showed his sense of humour. He packed an old iPod loaded with Hannah Montana songs and said he sang along in the mirror as a morning routine.
If you want another podcaster and entertainer competing on a TV contest, our Connor Wood net worth page covers one.
How His Game Has Gone So Far
The Traitors this season are funeral director Joe Vanella and pilot Tomica Adams, plus marketing manager Katie Fites, who became the third Traitor after the accomplice twist. McDonnell is a Faithful, which means he has to work out who they are without ever seeing their private conversations.
During the Episode 3 mission, TVLine reported that McDonnell and Michael Foote gave up $10,000 in exchange for a clue about the Traitors. That is a rare moment where he is named in recaps, and he has otherwise stayed out of the biggest storylines.
Through Episode 5, six players have left: Kim Daily, Xavier Scruggs and Logan Smith were murdered, and Madeline Kostopulos, Arisa Thomas and Sherry Kuehl were banished. McDonnell was not among them, and he was still in the castle as of Episode 5 on October 8.
What’s Next for Ben McDonnell
Episode 6, “A Murder of Necessity,” airs tonight, Thursday, October 15, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Episode 7 is scheduled for October 22. We’ll update this page when his status changes.
Beyond the show, we couldn’t find an announced acting, podcast or rodeo project for him. If one is announced, we’ll cover it here.
For another athlete who went from competing in a sport to TV competition, see our Brady Booker net worth page.
Ben McDonnell Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Benjamin “Ben” McDonnell |
| Age | 34 |
| Hometown (as listed by NBC) | Granbury, Texas |
| Occupation | Barrel racer; also an actor and podcaster |
| Show | The Traitors: New Blood (NBC, Peacock next day) |
| Role | Faithful |
| Status | Still in the castle as of Episode 5 |
| @mcdonnellben |
Ben McDonnell Net Worth FAQs
What is Ben McDonnell’s net worth? It hasn’t been made public. We found no confirmed figure.
How much does Ben McDonnell make? His income hasn’t been disclosed. The typical pay table above covers athletes in general, not his pay.
How much can Ben McDonnell win on The Traitors? The prize fund can reach $250,000. Remaining Faithful share it only if every Traitor is banished. Nothing has been awarded yet.
Is Ben McDonnell a Traitor or a Faithful? He is a Faithful. The Traitors are Joe Vanella, Tomica Adams and Katie Fites.
Is Ben McDonnell still on The Traitors? He was still in the castle as of Episode 5 on October 8. Episode 6 airs tonight.
How old is Ben McDonnell? He is 34.
What does Ben McDonnell do for a living? NBC lists him as a barrel racer. Marie Claire also describes him as an actor and a podcaster.
Where is Ben McDonnell from? NBC lists his hometown as Granbury, Texas.
How We Put This Together
We built this article from the following sources:
- Wikipedia: The Traitors: New Blood season page (cast table, ages, roles, location)
- TV Insider: cast gallery and episode recaps (hometowns, bios, bonus rules, eliminations)
- TVLine: Episode 3 and 4 recap (the clue trade, Katie’s promotion)
- Marie Claire: cast guide (acting and podcasting, Instagram handle, Faithful role)
- Entertainment Weekly, as relayed by The Traitors Wiki: pre-season interview answers
- Entertainment Now: cast profile (age, rodeo background)
- TheWrap and Yahoo Entertainment: cast lists and premiere details
- MEAWW: Episode 4 prize pot ($65,000)
- DirecTV Insider: episode schedule and competitor tracker
- NBC, as reported by Show Biz Junkies: prize fund and format
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: median pay for athletes and sports competitors (May 2024)
No outlet has reported his net worth or any pay from the show, so none is stated here.