Biggest Loser winner Michael Ventrella reveals prize plans

Biggest Loser winner Michael Ventrella has revealed how he hopes to spend his prize money. The 30-year-old from Chicago scooped the $250,000 grand prize on Tuesday night’s live finale after shedding 246lbs from his initial starting weight of 526lbs. He had lost over 50% of his body weight.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the DJ said that after paying taxes he is planning on tracking down a car that his mother – who entered the ranch alongside him – used to own when she was younger.

“I’m going to make good on the promise that I made to my mom when I was a little kid,” he explained. “When she was younger she had a real beat-up [Chartreuse] Ford mustang convertible. Sometime soon I’m going to go get her that Mustang convertible with a big bow on it and I’m going to find a way to surprise her.”

He continued to say that his triumph on the show would “not have been possible” without her, saying: “This woman moulded me into the gentleman that I am today, she’s been my friend, she’s been my inspiration, she motivated me when I felt like I wanted to give up, and so much is gratefully due to her.”

Ventrella – who has said that he wants to celebrate his win at a theme park – previously told Digital Spy that he had not gone into the finale feeling confident, insisting that he did not want to “jinx” himself and that he “was hoping for the best and preparing myself for the worst”.

The Biggest Loser airs on NBC.