A University of Connecticut film and communications student from Boston, Massachusetts, turned a “Price Is Right” appearance into a double vacation windfall — and celebrated with an acrobatic flourish the cameras barely caught. Jakob Feltquate won two international trips on the CBS game show during a June 24 taping, with the clip posted to the program’s Instagram on August 14.
A Backflip Before the Bidding Even Starts
Feltquate signaled from the start that he was not going to blend into the crowd. When host Drew Carey called him down to Contestants’ Row, the UConn student paused in the aisle and executed a full backflip before making his way to the podium. Feltquate later shared footage of himself watching the episode on his own Instagram account, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at his reaction to seeing the moment broadcast.
His first test came at the bidding table, where the item on offer was a MorningBlues smart speaker and digital frame. Feltquate placed a bid of $1,000 on the product. The actual retail price turned out to be $1,700, and because the next closest bid among his competitors came in at $1,499 — just above the item’s price — Feltquate’s lower bid landed him the win. He took the prize and advanced to the main stage.
Bargain Game Sends Him Around the World
Onstage, Feltquate faced the Bargain Game, a pricing challenge built around two travel packages: a trip to New Zealand and a trip to Italy. Feltquate said the rules were straightforward — correctly identify which of the two listed prices was the discounted “bargain” price, and walk away with both vacations. The New Zealand package was listed at $10,256, while the Italy trip was listed at $14,878. Feltquate selected New Zealand as the bargain.
Model James O’Halloran then stepped in to reveal what Italy was actually worth: $16,378, making the listed price a discount of $1,500. Model Manuela Arbeláez handled the New Zealand reveal, announcing the actual price of that trip was $13,256 — a markdown of $3,000. Feltquate had read the room correctly on both counts, securing the full prize package valued at more than $25,000 in travel.
Carey reacted with an enthusiastic “Yes!” as the correct answer was confirmed. Feltquate was considerably less restrained. “Let’s gooo,” he yelled, banging on his chest as the reality of the win sank in.
Showcase Wheel Falls Short, but the Win Stands
Feltquate’s momentum hit a wall at the Showcase Showdown. Spinning the big wheel, he landed on 80 — a respectable number under normal circumstances, but not enough on this particular day. Both of his opponents spun $1.00 on their turns, forcing a tiebreaker spin between them to determine who would advance to the Showcase. Feltquate was eliminated from that round but left the stage with his two international trips already secured.
What the show’s official Instagram clip did not capture was another backflip Feltquate performed at the conclusion of his win segment. His parents, who were in the audience, cheered loudly alongside the rest of the crowd as the student celebrated. The full sequence, including both flips and his family’s reaction, was something Feltquate himself shared through his personal social media.
Fans Cheer the Viral Clip Online
After the show posted the clip to its Instagram account on August 14, viewers flooded the comments section with praise. One user called it a great win, while another noted the entire prize haul — worth more than $25,000 — came together with remarkable speed. A third simply told Feltquate to enjoy his trips.
Feltquate captioned his own Instagram post with a line that quickly became a fan favorite. He described himself as having brought justice for redheads, adding, “What can I say?” The self-deprecating quip earned its own share of attention in the comments. With a trip to New Zealand and a trip to Italy now on the books, the film and communications student has some unusually scenic material to draw from heading into the next phase of his studies.
“The Price Is Right,” now in its 55th season, airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT on CBS.