So, you’re looking for the short answer: Jas and Jag Bains are the current title holders. They just took home the million-dollar prize in December 2025 during the finale of Season 38. If you’re a reality TV nut, that name "Jag" probably rang a bell immediately. Yeah, it’s the same Jag Bains who won Big Brother 25. He basically made history by becoming the first person ever to win both Big Brother and The Amazing Race.
It’s kinda wild how much has happened with the show lately. Between the "scramble" seasons and the return to big, globe-trotting routes after the COVID years, keeping track of who is the winner of the amazing race has become a bit of a moving target.
The Bains Brothers Domination in Season 38
Jag and his brother Jas didn't just win; they absolutely steamrolled the competition. Honestly, it was a little scary to watch. They won seven out of the twelve legs. To put that in perspective, most teams are just happy to survive a leg without getting lost in a taxi or failing a detour.
They were the first Sikh-Punjabi team to win the series, which was a huge moment for representation. But beyond that, their "Race Brain" was just on another level. They stayed calm when other teams were screaming at each other in the streets of Prague or getting flustered by the heat in Athens.
The final leg in December saw them racing through some intense challenges, ultimately beating out fan-favorites Kyland Young and Taylor Hale (another Big Brother powerhouse duo) and brothers Joseph and Adam Abdin.
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Why the Season 38 Win Felt Different
- The Big Brother Factor: Having three teams from the Big Brother universe in the final three made the dynamic very strategic. It wasn't just about running fast; it was about social play.
- Consistency: Usually, a front-runner crumbles at the very end. The Bains brothers didn't. They led from the front and never looked back.
- Historical Significance: Jag’s "double crown" is something fans will be talking about for years in the Reddit threads.
What Happened Earlier in 2025? (Season 37)
If you missed the spring cycle, the winners of Season 37 were Carson McCalley and Jack Dodge. They were best friends and gamers from Brooklyn. Before the Bains brothers took the spotlight, these guys were the talk of the town.
They were super prepared. Like, "we went to therapy to learn how to communicate better under pressure" prepared. And it worked. They beat siblings Han and Holden Nguyen in a finale that took place in Miami.
One thing people often get wrong about their win is how close it was. Actually, it wasn't close at all. Because of a massive weather delay in Miami—flooding basically shut down the city—the teams had a few days to reset. When the race restarted, Carson and Jack found a gear no one else had. By the time they reached the final memory puzzle at the finish line, they had over an hour lead.
Looking Back at Ricky and Cesar (Season 36)
Before the double-header of 2025, we had Season 36 in 2024. Ricky Rotandi and Cesar Aldrete were the winners there. If you want to talk about a "near-perfect" season, these guys are the blueprint.
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They finished in the top three in every single leg.
That is statistically insane.
They weren't the most "athletic" team in the traditional sense, but they were smart. Cesar is a chef and food stylist, and Ricky is a preschool teacher. They used those attention-to-detail skills to breeze through tasks that left military pilots and pro athletes scratching their heads. They won $1 million in Philadelphia, proving that being "race-smart" beats being "gym-strong" every day of the week.
How the Winner is Actually Determined
A lot of people think the winner is just the person who runs the fastest on the last day. Kinda, but not really. The final leg is usually a massive memory test.
To be who is the winner of the amazing race, you have to remember every single country, every task, and sometimes even the specific "Pit Stop" greeters you met weeks prior. The show loves a good "memory board" or "giant puzzle" at the very end. This is where the physical teams often lose to the "nerd" teams. If you can’t remember what color the flag was in Barbados three weeks ago, you aren't winning that million.
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Common Misconceptions About the Finish Line
- The Lead Doesn't Always Carry Over: Most legs are "staggered," but the final leg usually starts with everyone on the same flight. Your lead from the previous week basically vanishes the moment you get to the airport.
- The Money Isn't "Tax-Free": It’s a million bucks, sure, but after Uncle Sam takes his cut and the state taxes are filed, winners usually walk away with somewhere between $550,000 and $650,000 depending on where they live. Still life-changing, but not "buy a private island" money.
- The Host Doesn't Know: Phil Keoghan has mentioned in interviews that even he doesn't always know who’s in the lead until they are within a mile of the finish mat.
What’s Next for the Series?
With Season 38 just wrapped up, the buzz is already starting for the next round. If you're looking to see who the next winner of the amazing race might be, rumors suggest Season 39 is already in the casting or early filming stages for a 2026 release.
The trend lately has been a mix of "all-stars" and newcomers. Whether we get another dominant pair like Jas and Jag or an underdog story like Ricky and Cesar, the formula remains the same: don't finish last, and for the love of everything, don't forget to read the clue properly.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you're looking to dive deeper into the stats of the latest seasons, check out the official CBS episode recaps to see exactly where the runners-up lost their time. You can also follow the Season 38 winners, Jag and Jas, on social media—they’ve been pretty active sharing "behind-the-scenes" stories that didn't make the final edit, including some pretty funny mishaps with public transit in Europe.