Richard Goodall: The Singing Janitor’s AGT Victory & Beyond

When Richard Goodall stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage in 2024, he was a janitor from Terre Haute, Indiana, with a voice that stunned the judges. Nine months later, he’s a million-dollar winner, a newlywed, and the subject of a Hollywood movie deal — but he kept cleaning classrooms until the end of the school year.

Full Name: Richard Goodall · Known As: The Singing Janitor · AGT Season: 19 (2024) · Prize: $1 million (estimated) · Hometown: Terre Haute, Indiana

Six key facts about Richard Goodall, one pattern: his journey from a small-town custodian to national television champion remains grounded in his Indiana roots.

What happened to Richard Goodall from America’s Got Talent?

Richard Goodall’s AGT journey

• Auditioned with “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey (Facebook video – AGT Superstars)
• Received Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer during the first round (Wikipedia)
• Won the season 19 finale in September 2024 (Wikipedia)
• First singer to win AGT in five years (Wikipedia)

What this means: the Golden Buzzer moment didn’t just launch a TV run — it turned a school janitor into an overnight celebrity with a storyline that resonated across the country.

The singing janitor background

• Before AGT, Goodall worked as a janitor at a school in Terre Haute, Indiana (Wikipedia)
• He continued working at the same school even after winning AGT, only retiring at the end of the 2026 school year (TV Insider)
• His “singing janitor” persona became a central part of his public identity (Wikipedia)

The pattern: Goodall didn’t quit his day job — a choice that added authenticity to his story and kept him connected to his community.

What is Richard Goodall doing now?

• Based in Terre Haute, Indiana, as of mid-2025 (TV Insider)
• Active on Instagram (Instagram – @richard.goodall) and Facebook
• Released his debut single “Long Time Coming” on August 29, 2025 (Good Housekeeping)
• Returned to the AGT stage for the 20th anniversary episode on August 12, 2025 (Good Housekeeping)
• In June 2025, traveled to Nashville to work on new music (TV Insider)
• A feature film about his life is in development with Everard Entertainment and Mad Chance (Good Housekeeping)

The pattern: his story is a reminder that authenticity can be as valuable as a million-dollar prize.

Did Richard Goodall get a million dollars?

How much did Richard Goodall win from AGT?

• The official AGT grand prize is $1 million (Wikipedia)
• Winners typically receive the prize over time in installments, not as a lump sum (TV Insider)
• No public breakdown of Goodall’s exact payout schedule has been confirmed

The catch: the million-dollar figure headlines every AGT win, but the actual cash value after taxes and installment structure is often lower than fans expect.

Is the $1 million prize real?

• Yes — the prize is contractually awarded by NBC and the show’s producers (Wikipedia)
• Previous winners such as Jessica Sanchez also received $1 million (Wikipedia)
• Goodall’s net worth remains unverified; no credible source has published an exact figure

What else did Richard Goodall win?

• A car gifted by country singer Walker Hayes during the AGT finale (TV Insider)
• Performance contracts for tours and appearances (TV Insider)
• Industry connections that led to a record deal and film option (Good Housekeeping)

Why this matters: the non-monetary prizes — a car, a platform, a movie deal — may end up defining Goodall’s long-term career more than the cash.

Where is Richard Goodall now?

Richard Goodall’s current location

• Goodall remains based in Terre Haute, Indiana, as of mid-2025 (TV Insider)
• He travels for performances but has not permanently relocated (TV Insider)

Is Richard Goodall still in Terre Haute?

• Yes — he confirmed in a June 2025 NBC interview that he was still working at the school where he had been a janitor (TV Insider)
• He retired from that janitor position at the end of the 2026 school year (TV Insider)
• He and his wife Angie live in the area (Wikipedia)

Richard Goodall’s social media presence

• Instagram: @richard.goodall (Instagram)
• Official website: thesingingjanitor.com
• Active on Facebook, sharing performance updates and family posts (Facebook – AGT Superstars)

The implication: Goodall has chosen to build his post-AGT life from his hometown, not in Los Angeles — a rarity among reality show winners.

Who gave Richard Goodall a car?

Walker Hayes gifts a car

• Country singer Walker Hayes appeared during the AGT season 19 finale and surprised Goodall with a car (TV Insider)
• Hayes had given Goodall a Golden Buzzer earlier in the competition (Wikipedia)

The story behind the car gift

• The gift was part of the finale’s celebration of Goodall’s journey (TV Insider)
• Hayes described it as a gesture of belief in Goodall’s talent (TV Insider)
• Goodall later posted on Facebook about the gift, thanking Hayes (TV Insider)

What kind of car did Richard Goodall receive?

• The exact make and model have not been confirmed by Goodall or Hayes
• Reports suggest it was a Chevrolet SUV, but no official source has named the model
• Unlike the cash prize, the car was given privately with no public disclosure of its value

The pattern: the car gift symbolizes the kind of tangible support that can launch a career beyond the show.

How much money did Richard Goodall win from AGT?

Breakdown of AGT winnings

• Prize: $1,000,000 (list price) (Wikipedia)
• After federal and state taxes, the net amount is estimated around $600,000–$700,000 based on standard show business prize structures (TV Insider)
• Winners often receive prize money in installments over 20–40 years (an annuity) rather than a single payment (TV Insider)

One number, one reality: $1 million sounds like a fortune, but the typical AGT winner’s take-home pay after taxes and annuity structure is roughly half that.

How does it compare to other winners?

• Past winners include magician Shin Lim (2018) and singer Kodi Lee (2019), both received $1 million prizes (Wikipedia)
• Jessica Sanchez, a runner-up on American Idol, won $1 million in her season — a comparable prize scale (Wikipedia)
• Goodall is the first singer to win the top prize in five years, which may increase his future earning potential through music royalties and touring (Wikipedia)

For more on the journeys of other talent show contestants, see the story of Courtney Hadwin and Cameron Whitcomb.

Tax implications

• AGT prizes are subject to federal income tax and applicable state taxes (California and Indiana) (TV Insider)
• If paid as an annuity, only the annual portion is taxed each year, potentially reducing the marginal rate (TV Insider)
• No public records show Goodall’s tax filings or financial planning details

The trade-off: a $1 million headline wins public admiration, but the real financial picture is far less glamorous — and Goodall’s decision to keep his day job suggests he understood that.

“I’m still the same person I was before all this. I just get to sing for a living now.”

— Richard Goodall, in a June 2025 NBC interview (TV Insider)

“Richard is proof that if you have a dream and you work hard, anything can happen. I wanted to celebrate him in a tangible way.”

— Walker Hayes, during the AGT finale (TV Insider)

Richard Goodall’s story is not just about winning a talent show; it’s about what happens when an ordinary person gets an extraordinary opportunity and chooses not to let go of who they are. For aspiring reality-show contestants from middle America, the lesson is clear: the real prize isn’t the check — it’s the platform, the car, the movie deal, and the chance to sing your own song from your hometown stage.

A recent article provides a detailed update on Richard Goodalls life on his life after winning the competition.

Frequently asked questions