So, you're sitting there wondering who won America's Got Talent recently, right? It's funny how this show works. One minute you’re watching a guy try to balance a lawnmower on his chin, and the next, you’re witnessing a literal life-changing miracle.
The most recent person to take home the $1 million prize is Jessica Sanchez.
If that name sounds familiar, it's because she’s basically the queen of "never giving up." Jessica won Season 20, which wrapped up in September 2025. This wasn't just some random win. It was a 20-year full-circle moment.
The Wild Story of Who Won America's Got Talent Season 20
Jessica Sanchez actually auditioned for the very first season of AGT back in 2006. She was only 10 years old. She didn't win back then. She didn't even make it to the finals.
Then she went on American Idol years later and came in second. Most people would have just called it a day and played local gigs, but not her. She came back for the 20th anniversary season of AGT, got Sofia Vergara’s Golden Buzzer, and finally—finally—clinched the title.
She was also very pregnant during the finale. Like, "could-go-into-labor-on-stage" pregnant. She performed "Die With A Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, and honestly? It was over the second she hit the first high note.
What happened to the "Singing Janitor" from 2024?
Before Jessica, we had Richard Goodall.
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If you want to talk about a "human-quality" story, Richard is it. He was a middle school janitor from Terre Haute, Indiana. He spent 23 years mopping floors and cleaning up after kids while singing to himself in the hallways.
He won Season 19 in 2024.
He didn't have the polished look of a pop star. He looked like... well, a guy who works at a school. But when he sang "Don’t Stop Believin’" for his audition, Heidi Klum lost her mind and hit the Golden Buzzer.
Richard’s win was huge because it reminded everyone why we watch the show. It’s not always about the flashy Vegas acts. Sometimes it’s about the guy who’s been "flying by the seat of his pants," as he put it, and ends up with a million bucks and a performance with the actual band Journey.
Everyone Who Won America’s Got Talent (The Recent Hall of Fame)
The list of winners is getting pretty long now, but the last few years have been a rollercoaster of different talents. It’s not just singers anymore.
- Season 20 (2025): Jessica Sanchez (Singer) - The comeback kid who first tried out at age 10.
- Season 19 (2024): Richard Goodall (Singer) - The "Singing Janitor" who captured the heart of the Midwest.
- Season 18 (2023): Adrian Stoica and Hurricane (Dog Act) - A man and his incredibly smart Border Collie.
- Season 17 (2022): The Mayyas (Dance Group) - An ethereal, hypnotic alternative dance crew from Lebanon.
- Season 16 (2021): Dustin Tavella (Magician) - A storyteller who used magic to talk about his family and adoption.
It’s kinda wild to see how the "talent" part of the show shifts. For a few years, everyone thought only magicians could win. Then the dog acts took over. Now, we’re back to powerhouse vocalists with massive backstories.
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Why the 2025 Finale Felt Different
Jessica Sanchez beating out Chris Turner (a freestyle rapper who was insanely good) felt like a shift. AGT has been leaning hard into the "Variety" aspect lately, so having a straight-up powerhouse singer win felt a bit "old school" in the best way.
Chris Turner was the runner-up, and honestly, a lot of people thought he had it. His ability to take random words from the audience and turn them into a cohesive rap is something you usually only see in underground clubs, not on an NBC stage in Pasadena.
But the voters went with the emotional connection.
The Million Dollar Question: What Do They Actually Win?
People always ask: "Does the winner really get a million dollars right then and there?"
The answer is... kinda.
If you read the fine print at the end of the show (which nobody does because the confetti is flying), the $1,000,000 is actually paid out as an annuity over 40 years. That's about $25,000 a year before taxes. Or, they can opt for a "present cash value" which is a much smaller lump sum.
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It’s still a lot of money, but it’s not exactly "buy a private island" money.
The real prize is the Vegas residency. That’s where the actual wealth is made. Richard Goodall, for instance, didn't just take his check and go back to mopping (though he did stay at his job for a little while). He released a single called "Long Time Coming" in 2025 and has been doing the talk show circuit.
How to Keep Up With Future Winners
If you're looking to see who the next big thing is, Season 21 auditions are usually the place to start. The show typically follows a pattern:
- Auditions (Summer): This is where the viral moments happen.
- Live Shows (August/September): The stakes get real and the "Golden Buzzers" have to prove they weren't just a fluke.
- The Finale (Late September): Where the winner is crowned.
Pro-Tips for AGT Superfans
- Watch the YouTube views: Usually, the person who wins America's Got Talent has an audition video with over 20 million views. Richard Goodall had over 40 million. The public basically decides the winner months before the finale even happens.
- The "Order of Performance" Matters: Usually, the person who goes last in the finale has a statistically higher chance of winning. Production knows who the favorites are.
- Check Social Media: If you want to know who is going to win before the results show, look at the engagement on the AGT Instagram page after the final performances. The comments section rarely lies.
Whether you're a fan of the singers, the magicians, or the people who do weird things with shadows, the show keeps proving that "talent" is a pretty broad term. Jessica Sanchez is the name you need to know for now, but by this time next year, we'll probably be talking about a kid playing the spoons or a high-tech drone show.
If you want to see Jessica's winning moment or Richard's viral audition, both are still all over YouTube and NBC's official site. It's worth a watch just to see the judges' faces when they realized they were looking at a winner.
Next Step: You can head over to the official AGT YouTube channel to see Jessica Sanchez's final performance of "Die With A Smile" to see exactly why she took home the trophy.