The finale of Million Dollar Secret dropped on Netflix on April 9, 2025, wrapping up the debut season of the online streaming service's newest reality game show. The series followed 12 strangers, each trying to figure out who among them was secretly holding a box containing $1 million while they participated in physical and mental tasks.
Over eight drama-packed episodes, contestants took on challenges, formed alliances, and cast elimination votes — all while trying to either protect or uncover the mystery millionaire.
That winner turned out to be 29-year-old Cara Kies, a Southern California native who had everyone fooled. Known on the show for being kind and quiet, she played a sharp, low-key game and ultimately walked away with the full prize. But what did she do once the cameras stopped rolling?
“I went back to flipping burgers,”
Cara said in an interview with Tudum.
“No one even knew I was gone.”
How Cara Kies won Million Dollar Secret without anyone suspecting her
Cara Kies wasn’t the flashiest player on Million Dollar Secret, and that’s exactly what helped her win. A line cook at In-N-Out in real life, she leaned into her everyday persona during the game.
Early episodes showed her as a friendly, calm competitor who avoided drawing too much attention. That helped her stay under the radar — especially important for someone trying to hide a million-dollar secret.
But she wasn’t just being passive. Behind the Million Dollar Secret scenes, Cara made subtle moves to protect her box. She even lied about a clue late in the game, leading to another contestant’s elimination.
In episode 8, she pulled off her biggest move yet. Being one of the last three contestants standing, she made Corey Niles believe she was the millionaire, betting that he'd try to steal her box in the final moments. Then, unsure if he had in fact switched their boxes when she wasn't around, she took a risk and switched boxes with him — and with this move, locked in her win.
It was a clean finish that proved strategy doesn’t have to be loud.
Cara went back to work at In-N-Out after winning Million Dollar Secret
Filming for Million Dollar Secret ended in May 2024, but the winner couldn’t say a word until the show aired nearly a year later. So while Cara Kies had a million-dollar secret to keep, she also had a job to return to.
“When the show came out, [my co-workers] were like, ‘When did you go?’ We didn't know you even left for a month,”
she told Tudum.
Even after winning Million Dollar Secret, Cara kept her head down. She didn’t make any big purchases or post giveaways on Instagram. Instead, she quietly returned to work and kept her routine intact. The hardest part? Keeping the whole thing under wraps for nearly a year.
“It’s just been crazy having this huge secret that no one knows,”
she said.
“It’s such a weird feeling. I'm so grateful. I’m just this average burger-flipping girl with this huge secret.”
Family, faith, and staying grounded after the win
Cara’s social media paints a clear picture of who she is outside the Million Dollar Secret : a family-oriented woman with deep roots in Southern California. She’s been married to her high school sweetheart, Andreas Kies, for seven years. The two share a dog named Banks, and she often posts about their life together.
“Ten years ago today my sweet Andreas Kies broke the ultimate friend zone and took me on our first date!”
she wrote in a 2023 anniversary post.
“Ever since that day he has never failed to show me just how much he loves and cares about me.[...] Cheers to 6 years of marriage and a lifetie to go!”
After her Million Dollar Secret win, Cara said her top priority was using the money to support her loved ones.
“I plan on, foremost, just helping my family,”
she told Today.
“We’ve experienced back-to-back losses on so many things and never anything good. Just helping them, my husband, and just making sure we’re all good—that’s all I could ask for.”
Her strategy: play small, listen well, and trust your gut
While Cara didn’t appear as a major threat in the first few episodes of Million Dollar Secret, her gameplay had more layers than most realized.
In her interview with Tudum, she described herself as a lifelong fan of shows like Survivor, Big Brother, and The Challenge. That background helped her shape her approach.
“I always dreamed about being on a show like this,”
she said.
“I’ve studied these shows and always wondered, ‘What would I do if I was there?’”
She knew balance was the key.
“You can’t be too loud, and you can’t be too quiet,”
she explained. Throughout the game, she carefully controlled how much she revealed while getting to know others on a deeper level. It was all part of her plan.
“I’ve always had that intuition since I was a little girl. I think God blessed me with incredible discernment,”
she shared.
“I knew that was going to be my one plus in this game.”
Now that Million Dollar Secret has aired and her win is public, many are wondering what’s next for Cara Kies. Despite having a seven-figure check in the bank, she’s not planning to leave her life behind.
There’s no influencer deal (yet), and no plans to move to L.A. or appear on another reality show. Her focus remains on her family and staying grounded. While she admits it’s surreal to live with that kind of win, she’s not in a rush to change everything overnight.
“I’m just really grateful. It was such a blessing. It still feels kind of unreal,”
she said.
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Whether she stays in the reality TV spotlight or not, Cara will go down as the first person to ever win Million Dollar Secret. And she did it all without the usual flash — no big betrayals, no loud speeches, no dramatic meltdowns. Just a quiet, clever game played with patience and trust in her gut.
And yes — she really did go back to flipping burgers.
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