If you spent your Wednesday nights screaming at the television because someone wouldn’t just get off their square and duel, you aren't alone. The social media fallout after the finale was, honestly, a bit of a mess. When the confetti finally fell and Rob Lowe handed over that giant check, Keelan von Ehrenkrook was the one standing there as the official winner of season 2 of The Floor.
He walked away with the $250,000 grand prize.
But if you ask the die-hard fans on Reddit or X, the victory comes with a giant asterisk. Why? Because Keelan basically "camped" his way to a fortune. While other contestants were out there playing the "whale" game—taking over half the map and risking everything in back-to-back duels—Keelan stayed put. He was the guy in the corner with the category Periodic Table. And as it turns out, having a category that sounds terrifyingly difficult is the best shield you can buy.
How Keelan von Ehrenkrook Won Season 2 of The Floor
The strategy Keelan used wasn't exactly aggressive. It was defensive to the point of being frustrating for viewers who wanted high-octane action. He only participated in one duel before the actual finale episode. Most of the other 99 contestants looked at his "Periodic Table" square and decided they’d rather face literally anything else.
Strategy in this show is a weird beast.
📖 Related: Howie Mandel Cupcake Picture: What Really Happened With That Viral Post
You’ve got people like Jennifer Strickland, who was a powerhouse throughout the season. She was often cited by fans as the "rightful" winner because she actually fought for her territory. But that’s the thing about The Floor: it doesn't reward the most active player. It rewards the last one standing.
The final showdown came down to a best-of-three face-off between Keelan and Jennifer.
- Round 1: Jennifer made the bold (and probably regrettable) choice to challenge Keelan on his home turf—the Periodic Table. Keelan, who is a substitute teacher with a background in chemistry tutoring, absolutely crushed it.
- Round 2: They switched to Jennifer’s specialty, CEOs. She won this one handily, evening the score.
- The Decider: It all came down to a neutral category. Keelan managed to keep his cool under the lights and secured the win.
The Controversy Behind the Victory
People are still debating whether Keelan "earned" it. It’s a classic game show dilemma. Do you reward the person who took the most risks, or the person who played the smartest social and strategic game?
Honestly, Keelan’s category was his greatest weapon. If you pick something like "Fast Food" or "Pop Stars," you're begging for a challenge. If you pick the Periodic Table, you're essentially telling the room, "I have 118 elements memorized, do you really want to try me?" Most people didn't.
👉 See also: Austin & Ally Maddie Ziegler Episode: What Really Happened in Homework & Hidden Talents
"I think the only reason I made it to the finale is because people were scared of the category. Either that or I was too likable." — Keelan von Ehrenkrook in an interview with FOX 5 San Diego.
There's also the "fluke" factor. Keelan wasn't even supposed to be on the show originally. A friend of his was slated for the spot but couldn't make it and recommended Keelan to the producers. Talk about a life-changing referral.
What Keelan Is Doing With the $250,000
Winning a quarter of a million dollars is a lot to process, especially when you're used to the life of a substitute teacher. Keelan has been pretty open about how overwhelming the experience was. He’s mentioned that the pressure of the cameras makes your brain freeze in ways you can’t imagine until you're standing on that glowing LED floor.
As for the money? He’s playing it safe for now.
✨ Don't miss: Kiss My Eyes and Lay Me to Sleep: The Dark Folklore of a Viral Lullaby
- Investing: He’s given the "smart" answer of putting a good chunk of it away for the future.
- Travel: He has expressed interest in seeing more of the world.
- Content Creation: There are whispers of him moving into the digital space, perhaps using his teaching background.
It’s worth noting that since Keelan’s win, the show has continued to evolve. We’ve seen winners like Jacquelyn Kenny in Season 1, Steven Havens in Season 3, and Ashley Washburn in Season 4. Each one had a different path, but Keelan remains the poster child for the "scary category" strategy.
Lessons for Future Contestants
If you're sitting on your couch thinking you could do better, there are a few takeaways from Keelan’s run. First, your category choice is 90% of the battle. It needs to be something you know, but more importantly, something others think they don't know.
Second, the "Randomizer" is your worst enemy. You can have the best strategy in the world, but if that light lands on you, you have to be ready to pivot. Keelan’s win proved that you don't need to be a "whale" to take home the prize. You just need to be the person who doesn't blink when the clock starts ticking.
The show was filmed in Dublin, Ireland, at Ardmore Studios, despite the heavy American branding. This added another layer of stress for the contestants—traveling across the Atlantic to stand on a giant screen while Rob Lowe makes jokes. It’s a high-pressure environment that breaks even the smartest experts.
If you’re looking to catch up on how Keelan managed to pull this off, the episodes are still streaming on Hulu. It’s a fascinating study in human psychology—watching 99 people avoid one guy because they’re afraid of science, only to have him swoop in at the end and take the whole pot.
Your Next Steps for The Floor Fans:
- Watch the Season 2 Finale: Go back to Episode 12, "The Final Showdown," to see the exact moment the tide turned for Keelan.
- Study Finite Categories: If you're applying for the show, look for categories with a fixed number of items (like the Periodic Table or U.S. Presidents) rather than open-ended ones like "Movies."
- Follow the Winners: Check out the Season 4 winner, Ashley Washburn, to see how the game has changed since Keelan’s controversial win.