Carson City ‘Price is Right’ contestant kept big win a secret from family, friends until broadcast
When local teacher and Carson High alumni Molly Otto attended The Price is Right showcase, she had no idea she’d be winning big. She attended with her fiancé and his parents, and was dreaming of scoring a honeymoon trip.
But she won much more than that.
Her first win was bidding on a new computer monitor, keyboard and mouse, which got her up on the stage, where she was able to win a motorcycle (though it wasn’t in stock and was given cash instead). After spinning The Price is Right wheel, she was able to make it to the showcase and brought home a whole lot more.
She won two brand new recliners, a 75-inch TV, ice cream and pies for a whole year, and the best prize of all — a trip to Barcelona, Spain for four.
“The trip was our biggest prize,” Otto said. “We’re getting married in September, and we’re so excited. We’re taking my mother-in-law and father-in-law on the trip as well since they were on the show with us."
Otto is a Carson City native and teacher at Carson Montessori School whose parents and twin sister also live locally. When she, her fiancé and future in-laws attended The Price is Right, her family knew she was going — but only as an audience member.
“Keeping it a secret was the hardest thing I’ve done,” Otto said. “My twin sister and I tell each other everything. When my mom picked me up from the airport she asked ‘How was Price is Right?’ but I just had to keep it a surprise.”
The showcase took place in fall, but didn’t air until the end of November. During that time, Otto had to keep her family from asking too many questions, and when the news broke, had to keep them from reading about it in Carson Now and Nevada Appeal.
“I just had to keep it really low key and not talk about it at all,” Otto said.
It paid off; when the show aired, she was able to surprise her entire family, who had never guessed their daughter or sister had been the star of the show.
This week, prizes began coming in, such as the computer monitor and TV. “It’s so cool to see them arrive,” Otto said.
For those who have always dreamed of being on a game show, Otto has simple advice: Do it.
“I really encourage people if they have a chance to go on The Price is Right to just go for it,” she said. “It really is the chance of a lifetime.”
Did you miss the episode? You can stream it for free here!