The Price Is Right Missed Opportunities & Memorable Fails

The Price Is Right is a celebration of excitement, energy, and everyday knowledge—but when the lights shine bright and the prizes loom large, even the best contestants can freeze. From busted showcases to $1 overbids, the show has delivered decades of unforgettable missed opportunities. Here’s a look back at the most jaw-dropping miscalculations, heartbreaks, and hilarious fails in Price history.

The Dreaded Overbid

Nothing stings more on The Price Is Right than going over the actual price. It’s the show’s most famous rule: overbid, and you’re out. One of the most devastating examples happened when a contestant bid $31,000 on a showcase that was actually worth $30,999—missing a brand-new car and a vacation package by a single dollar. The crowd gasped. The contestant stared in disbelief. It became instant Price lore.

In another case, both showcase bids went over—meaning nobody won. Host Drew Carey had to deliver the painful news, and the crowd groaned in unison. Even a near-perfect guess means nothing if it's one penny too high.

One Dollar Strategy Fails

The $1 bid is a classic move—when played right. But some contestants use it recklessly. In one memorable game, a player bid $1 when the other bids were $800, $950, and $1,200. The actual price was $500. Ouch. Had they gone with $499 or even $700, they would’ve won.

Then there are those who bid $1 after someone else already made a clearly low guess. Strategic timing is everything—and when players forget that, it’s game over before they hit the stage.

Plinko Panic and Punch-a-Bunch Blunders

Few games generate more excitement than Plinko, but even this fan favorite is prone to painful fails. One contestant hit $0 on four consecutive chips. Each time, the disc veered left or right, bouncing into the void. With $50,000 in play, the contestant walked away with $0. “That’s Plinko for you,” Drew joked—but it hurt to watch.

In Punch-a-Bunch, another contestant punched out a $5,000 slip—but rejected it, hoping for a bigger number. They ended up walking away with $100. “You always take the five grand!” one audience member shouted. It’s the classic case of letting greed override good sense.

Showcase Showdowns Gone Sideways

Spinning the Big Wheel should be simple—but nerves make it treacherous. One player spun 95¢ on the first try—an almost guaranteed pass to the Showcase. But instead of stopping, she spun again, hoping for a dollar. She went over and was instantly eliminated. “What were you thinking?” one viewer wrote on social media. She simply smiled and shrugged.

Others miss their chance by being too cautious. A contestant landed on 70¢ and declined a second spin—only to be outdone by the next player who hit 75¢. Sometimes it’s better to risk the extra spin than cling to a modest score.

Epic Pricing Misfires

One contestant guessed that a microwave cost $2,400. It was $120. The audience gasped, and the clip made the rounds online as “Worst Guess Ever.”
In the game One Away, a contestant guessed the price of a car was $39,758. The correct price? $19,753. They were off by nearly $20,000—but believed in the guess to the very end.
Another player guessed a box of pasta cost $7.49. It was $1.29. No comeback from that one.

Game Confusion and Rule Misunderstandings

In a fast-paced environment like The Price Is Right, understanding the game rules is crucial. But not every contestant gets the memo. In the game Race Game, one player ran back and forth placing price tags—only to forget to pull the lever that checks their answers. Time ran out, and they were disqualified with zero prizes.

In Cliff Hangers, a contestant guessed prices too high and sent the little hiker flying off the mountain. Not once, but twice in one episode. Viewers both laughed and cringed, reminding us how easy it is to forget basic pricing when you're under pressure.

Celebrity and Themed Episode Fails

Even special guests aren’t immune to Price fails. On a celebrity edition, a well-known comedian forgot the rules of More or Less and answered “More” for every item. He was wrong on four out of five and laughed it off on air.

In a college-themed episode, a student bid $3,000 on a blender. The actual retail price? $149. “I don’t cook,” he explained. “That much was clear,” Drew replied.

Memorable “So Close” Moments

Some of the show’s most painful moments come when contestants miss perfection by a hair. One player guessed a showcase within $205—but unfortunately, she went over. Had she bid just a bit lower, she would’ve won both showcases, worth nearly $60,000.

Another contestant played Cover Up and got the first four digits of the car price right—but couldn’t figure out the last number. She had three chances and guessed wrong every time. The car was a $24,396 Ford. She guessed $24,398, $24,392, and $24,395. Agonizingly close.

Lessons From the Losses

Know your prices: Brushing up on the cost of common items can make or break a game.
Understand the rules: Each game has quirks—watch the show, learn the games, and be ready.
Stay cool under pressure: Nervous energy leads to overbids, botched spins, and misjudged risks.
Don’t get greedy: Sometimes the safe choice really is the smart one—especially in cash-based games.

Fails Make The Show

While winning moments bring cheers, the fails are what stick with us. From shattered showcase dreams to baffling guesses on grocery items, The Price Is Right delivers drama through human error. It’s not just a game—it’s a rollercoaster of hopes, heartbreak, and hilarity.

So next time you watch someone overbid by a dollar or guess that a can of soup costs $10, remember: it’s not easy up there. But win or lose, every spin, every bid, and every miss makes the show what it is—a celebration of excitement, chaos, and the everyday magic of guessing right.