The $1 Million Dream: The Definitive America’s Got Talent Winner’s List (2006–2026)
By Singer Stories Culture Desk | Last Updated: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
There is a specific kind of magic that happens when the golden confetti falls on the stage of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. For twenty years, we’ve watched school janitors, 11-year-old dreamers, and quiet magicians walk into the spotlight as "nobodies" and leave as icons.
As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary Milestone Season of AGT, the list of champions has grown into a diverse tapestry of human resilience. From the early vocalists to the rise of global "extreme" acts, here is every winner who has ever claimed the title, including the stars of Champions, Extreme, All-Stars, and Fantasy League.
The Current Reign: The 20th Anniversary Era (2025–2026)
Season 20 (2025): Jessica Sanchez
In a stunning "full circle" moment for reality TV fans, Jessica Sanchez claimed the Season 20 crown in September 2025. Jessica originally competed on AGT as a 10-year-old child prodigy before her famous run on American Idol. Her win was doubly emotional as she performed her final weeks of the competition while pregnant, culminating in a powerhouse rendition of "Die With a Smile" that left Simon Cowell calling it "the greatest vocal in twenty years."
Season 19 (2024): Richard Goodall
The "Singing Janitor" from Terre Haute, Indiana, became the heart of America in 2024. Richard Goodall spent 23 years cleaning the halls of an elementary school before his audition went viral.
The Human Note: Just six days before being announced as the winner, Richard married his longtime love, Angie. In 2025, he released his debut single "Long Time Coming," proving it’s never too late to chase a dream.
The Modern Icons (2020–2023)
Season 18 (2023): Adrian Stoica and Hurricane
The bond between a man and his dog is a universal language. Adrian and Hurricane weren't just a "trick" act; they were a comedy duo. Their victory marked the first dog act to win since the Olate Dogs, and Adrian’s genuine love for his border collie reminded us why we love this show.
Season 17 (2022): The Mayyas
History was made when this Lebanese alternative dance crew took the stage. Founded by Nadim Cherfan, The Mayyas transformed the stage into a hypnotic, shifting landscape of human limbs and feathers. Sofia Vergara’s Golden Buzzer pick didn't just win; they brought Arab culture to the forefront of American pop culture.
Season 16 (2021): Dustin Tavella
Dustin Tavella didn't just perform magic; he told stories. By weaving his journey of adopting his two sons into his illusions, he won the hearts of millions who valued the "why" behind the magic.
Season 15 (2020): Brandon Leake
When Brandon Leake walked onto the stage in 2020, he was doing something the show had never really seen before: spoken word poetry. There was no backing track, no flashy dancers, and—because of the pandemic—not even a live audience to cheer him on. It was just one man, a microphone, and a raw heart.
I remember watching his audition where he spoke about his late sister; the silence in that empty auditorium was heavy. He didn’t just win because he was a good writer; he won because he gave people a way to process their own grief during a year when everyone was losing something. When Howie Mandel hit that Golden Buzzer, it wasn't for a "stunt"—it was for a moment of genuine human connection that we all desperately needed.
Season 14 (2019): Kodi Lee
If you want to talk about the most "hushed" moment in the history of the show, you have to talk about the night we met Kodi Lee. I think every person sitting on their couch that night had the same reaction: we saw a young man who was blind and autistic being helped to the piano by his mother, Tina, and we didn't know what to expect.
Then, he started to play. The second Kodi opened his mouth to sing "A Song for You," the entire energy of the competition shifted. It wasn't "good for a person with disabilities"—it was just world-class, undeniable genius. Seeing his mother’s face as she watched him find his voice in front of the world is still one of those "ugly cry" moments that makes you realize why AGT exists. Kodi didn’t just win the $1 million; he showed us that music is a literal bridge between two different worlds.
Season 13 (2018): Shin Lim
The man who made card magic "sexy." Shin Lim is arguably the most technically proficient magician to ever grace the stage. He is also the only person to win back-to-back, claiming the Season 13 crown and then the inaugural Champions trophy just months later.
Season 12 (2017): Darci Lynne Farmer
The 12-year-old who revived the art of ventriloquism. Darci Lynne didn't just talk with her puppets; she sang opera and soul through them. Today, she is a multi-millionaire touring act and a staple of the Las Vegas strip.
Season 11 (2016): Grace VanderWaal
Simon Cowell called her "the next Taylor Swift." With her yellow ukulele and a voice that sounded like "cracked gold," Grace VanderWaal became a global indie-pop sensation.
Season 10 (2015): Paul Zerdin
The British ventriloquist Paul Zerdin introduced us to "Sam" and "The Baby." His technical skill was so high he could leave his puppet on stage to talk to the audience by itself.
Season 9 (2014): Mat Franco
The first magician to ever win AGT. Mat Franco proved that magic didn't need big boxes and tigers to be a headlining act.
The Early Pioneers (2006–2013)
- Season 8: Kenichi Ebina (2013) – The Japanese matrix-style dancer who defied physics.
- Season 7: Olate Dogs (2012) – A high-energy father-and-son duo and their rescue pups.
- Season 6: Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. (2011) – A car washer who sang Sinatra better than Sinatra.
- Season 5: Michael Grimm (2010) – The soulful singer who famously beat out Jackie Evancho in a nail-biting finale.
- Season 4: Kevin Skinner (2009) – The Kentucky farmer with a voice full of country gravel.
- Season 3: Neal E. Boyd (2008) – The opera singer who moved the world. (Rest in Peace, Neal).
- Season 2: Terry Fator (2007) – The man who turned $1 million into a $100 million Las Vegas residency.
- Season 1: Bianca Ryan (2006) – The 11-year-old girl with the big voice who started it all.
The Spin-Off Champions: The Best of the Best
As the AGT brand expanded, so did the stakes. These spin-offs brought back the legends to see who truly was the "Ultimate" champion.
AGT: Fantasy League (2024): Ramadhani Brothers
The head-balancing duo from Tanzania. In a competition where judges drafted "teams" of their favorite acts, the Ramadhani Brothers took the trophy for Team Howie, performing feats of strength that left the audience screaming in terror and awe.
AGT: All-Stars (2023): Aidan Bryant
The self-taught aerialist Aidan Bryant learned his craft in his backyard using a bedsheet tied to a tree. After losing Season 16, he returned with a vengeance to claim the All-Stars title.
AGT: Extreme (2022): Alfredo Silva’s Cage Riders
Alfredo Silva’s Cage Riders took the wildest stunt riders in the world and put them in a "Globe of Death." It was the highest-octane win in the franchise's history.
AGT: The Champions Season 2 (2020): V.Unbeatable
This acrobatic dance group from Mumbai, India, became a global inspiration. Their story of loss and triumph made V.Unbeatable's win one of the most emotional in the show's history.
AGT: The Champions Season 1 (2019): Shin Lim
The "Grandmaster" of magic proved his Season 13 win was no fluke by beating out the best acts from around the world.
The Verdict: Why We Still Watch
People often ask, "Is AGT just a singing show?" This list proves otherwise. In twenty years, we have crowned poets, dogs, magicians, acrobats, and janitors. We watch because America’s Got Talent is the only place left on television where your background doesn't matter as much as your backbone.
Whether it’s Richard Goodall singing Journey in his school hallways or The Mayyas moving in perfect unison, these winners remind us that talent is everywhere—it just needs a stage.
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