When Richard Goodall, a 55-year-old janitor from Terre Haute, Indiana, won Season 19 of America’s Got Talent in September 2024, the story of the “singing janitor” seemed too perfect to be true. The reality of his journey — from a Golden Buzzer moment to a six-figure prize that comes with fine-print strings — is both more complicated and more revealing than the headlines suggest.
Last checked: 2026-07-17
Full name: Richard Goodall · Known as: The Singing Janitor · Occupation: Singer, former janitor · Won: America’s Got Talent Season 19 (2024) · Hometown: Terre Haute, Indiana · Official website: thesingingjanitor.com
How we researched this story
Last checked: 2026-07-17.
Sources reviewed: Encyclopedic source (Wikipedia), personal website (thesingingjanitor.com), news article (Good Housekeeping), social media (Instagram, Facebook), television network (NBC), national newspaper (USA Today), regional newspaper (IndyStar), international news outlet (Times of India), entertainment news (ComingSoon.net, Parade), financial analysis (Forbes via Yahoo Entertainment).
No interview with Richard Goodall, no on-site visit to Terre Haute, and no independent verification of net worth figures were conducted.
Snapshot of the story
- Richard Goodall won Season 19 of America’s Got Talent on September 24, 2024, becoming the first singer to win the show in five years. (USA Today)
- The advertised $1 million prize is structured as either a 40-year annuity paying approximately $25,000 per year before taxes, or a lump-sum payment estimated at about $300,000 pre-tax. (IndyStar)
- Heidi Klum awarded Goodall her Golden Buzzer after his audition performance of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” in late May 2024. (ComingSoon.net)
- Goodall retired from his janitorial position at West Vigo Middle School in June 2026, transitioning to a full-time music career, and reported finding his biological father in 2025. (Yahoo Entertainment)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Goodall |
| Known as | The Singing Janitor |
| Occupation | Singer, former janitor |
| Won | America’s Got Talent Season 19 (2024) |
| Hometown | Terre Haute, Indiana |
| Official website | thesingingjanitor.com |
| @richard.goodall | |
| Richard Goodall (public figure) |
What happened to Richard Goodall after winning America’s Got Talent?
Goodall’s AGT journey began in late May 2024 when he auditioned for Season 19 with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Judge Heidi Klum pressed the Golden Buzzer, sending him directly to the live shows and transforming his life almost overnight. (ComingSoon.net)
His AGT journey and Golden Buzzer
Goodall, then 55, had worked as a janitor at West Vigo Middle School in Terre Haute for years, singing only in local bars and at community events. In an interview with Parade, he described his audition as a leap of faith — he had never sung on a national stage before. (Parade) The Golden Buzzer moment aired in the season premiere, and clips of his performance quickly went viral.
What the Golden Buzzer means
Winning a Golden Buzzer sends a contestant directly to the live shows, bypassing the judges’ cuts. In Goodall’s case, it also brought him national attention before he had sung a single live note in the competition.
During the Season 19 finale on September 24, 2024, Goodall again performed “Don’t Stop Believin’,” this time joined on stage by Journey guitarist Neal Schon — a moment that Goodall later said fulfilled a lifelong dream. (USA Today) He was announced as the winner that same evening, becoming the first solo singer to win the show in five years. (Wikipedia)
“I’m still me. I’m at West Vigo Middle School right now.”
— Richard Goodall, quoted by ComingSoon.net, shortly after his Golden Buzzer moment
Life after winning: retirement and new career
Goodall continued working as a janitor for months after winning the title. In interviews with Yahoo Entertainment, he emphasized his desire to stay grounded and not rush into a new life. (Yahoo Entertainment) However, by June 2026, he retired from the school system to pursue a full-time music career. He also reported meeting his biological father for the first time in 2025, a personal milestone that added a deeply human dimension to his public narrative.
Goodall will “try to be conservative” about the $1 million prize, choosing to “invest a little” of the money and “plan smart.”
— Richard Goodall, quoted by Yahoo Entertainment, on his financial plans
The bottom line: Goodall’s post-AGT arc has been marked by deliberate pacing — he remained in his janitorial role long after winning, then retired on his own terms to focus on music and family.
How much money did Richard Goodall actually receive?
The headline figure of $1 million appears across most coverage of Goodall’s win. But the prize structure is more complex — and significantly less lucrative in immediate cash terms — than the marketing suggests.
AGT prize money: the annuity vs. lump sum
According to NBC’s disclaimer and a financial analysis by Forbes cited by IndyStar, the AGT grand prize is not a single $1 million check. (IndyStar) Winners choose between a 40-year annuity that pays about $25,000 per year before taxes, or a lump-sum cash payment that Forbes estimated at roughly $300,000 pre-tax. (Yahoo Entertainment) After federal and state taxes, the lump sum would be closer to $150,000–$200,000.
The catch behind the $1 million prize
Multiple outlets, including IndyStar and Yahoo Entertainment, have criticized AGT’s prize as misleading because the fine print reveals a 40-year payout schedule rather than a single cash award. Goodall has not publicly disclosed which option he chose.
In interviews, Goodall stated he intended to invest part of his winnings and avoid extravagant purchases. (Yahoo Entertainment) He told USA Today he might use the money to buy a double-wide trailer in a Florida senior community so he and his wife Angela could retire there — a plan consistent with his modest lifestyle.
Estimated net worth and earnings
Goodall’s net worth has not been officially disclosed. Beyond the AGT prize, he has earned income from post-win performances and endorsements, but no reliable public figures exist. The Times of India reported that a 2024 Kia EV9 was included as part of his AGT prize package, though this claim has not been independently verified by Tier 1 outlets. (Times of India)
Who gave Richard Goodall a car?
Goodall received not one but two notable car gifts — one as part of the official AGT prize package and a separate, community-driven surprise from country star Walker Hayes.
Walker Hayes’ gift
In August 2024, ahead of Goodall’s live show appearances, a community send-off event was held in Terre Haute. Country singer Walker Hayes surprised Goodall on stage with a brand-new white Buick, provided by a local dealership. (ComingSoon.net) This was a separate, grassroots gesture, not part of the official AGT prize package.
“America’s Got Talent” has announced its latest champion. Richard Goodall, who is known as the “singing janitor” from Indiana, captured the coveted title during the “AGT” finale on Tuesday night.
— USA Today, announcing Goodall’s win
Details of the AGT prize vehicle
Several outlets, including TheThings and the Times of India, reported that the official AGT prize package for Season 19 included a 2024 Kia EV9. (TheThings) However, this detail has not been confirmed by NBC or major Tier 1 news outlets, and the scope of the prize package beyond the cash award remains opaque.
The pattern: Goodall’s car gifts reflect two distinct dynamics — the formal sponsorship structure of the AGT platform and the remarkable local support from his hometown community.
Did Richard Goodall find his biological father?
One of the more personal questions surrounding Goodall’s story concerns his biological father. According to reporting by NBC and Goodall’s own statements, he found and met his biological father in 2025 — a reunion that took place after his AGT win brought significant public attention to his life. (USA Today)
Search for biological father
Details of Goodall’s early family life are sparse in mainstream coverage. He has spoken publicly about being raised primarily by his mother and about the emotional weight of not knowing his biological father for most of his life. The search appears to have been a private endeavor that accelerated after his public profile rose.
Why this matters
Goodall’s reunion with his biological father adds a layer of personal closure to a story that had already captured public imagination. That it happened while he was navigating a new music career and retirement from his long-time job suggests a year of profound personal transformation.
Reunion and meeting
The meeting, which Goodall described in an NBC segment, was emotional and affirming. No major outlet has independently verified the identity of his biological father, and Goodall has chosen to keep many details private. The reunion has been framed by those close to him as a meaningful capstone to a year of change.
The trade-off: While Goodall’s openness about his personal journey has deepened audience connection, it has also drawn attention to areas of his life that he has not fully shared — a common tension for public figures who rise to fame later in life.
Timeline of Richard Goodall’s journey
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Late May 2024 | Auditions for AGT Season 19 with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'”; receives Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer | ComingSoon.net |
| August 2024 | Community send-off event in Terre Haute; receives a free car from Walker Hayes and a local dealership | ComingSoon.net |
| August 13, 2024 | AGT Season 19 live shows begin; Goodall appears among quarterfinalists | Parade |
| September 24, 2024 | Wins AGT Season 19; performs “Don’t Stop Believin'” with Journey guitarist Neal Schon | USA Today |
| 2025 | Finds and meets his biological father for the first time | NBC (via multiple outlets) |
| June 2026 | Retires from West Vigo Middle School janitorial role to pursue full-time music career | Yahoo Entertainment |
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For those who want to know more about his life after the show, a recent article provides a comprehensive update.
Frequently asked questions about Richard Goodall
Is Richard Goodall still alive?
Yes, Richard Goodall is alive as of September 2024. He retired from his janitorial position in June 2026 and continues to pursue a music career.
What songs did Richard Goodall perform on America’s Got Talent?
Goodall performed Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” for his audition (which earned the Golden Buzzer) and again during the Season 19 finale, where he was joined by Journey guitarist Neal Schon. He also performed other songs during the live show rounds, including covers of classic rock hits.
Who gave Richard Goodall the Golden Buzzer?
Judge Heidi Klum gave Goodall her Golden Buzzer during his audition for Season 19 in May 2024. (Wikipedia)
Did Richard Goodall win America’s Got Talent?
Yes, Richard Goodall won Season 19 of America’s Got Talent on September 24, 2024. He was the first solo singer to win the competition in five years. (USA Today)
When did Richard Goodall retire?
Goodall retired from his janitorial position at West Vigo Middle School in June 2026 to focus on his music career. (Yahoo Entertainment)
Where is Richard Goodall from?
Richard Goodall is from Terre Haute, Indiana, where he worked as a janitor at West Vigo Middle School for many years before winning AGT. (USA Today)