The amount of prize money shocked me too, I put it down to a culture I don't understand. See also $50,000 prize money for what's called a "Spelling Bee": Askin

The amount of prize money shocked me too, I put it down to a culture I don't understand. See also $50,000 prize money for what's called a "Spelling Bee": Asking children to spell words correctly. I feel so far removed from understanding that culture that I feel like I can't criticize it.