It’s rewarding to see talented and hard-working people achieve their dreams, but that only gets better when said people never expected success to knock on their door. All of that describes well the uproar surrounding Richard Goodall, who took the country by surprise when he won “America’s Got Talent”’s 19th season.
Not only is Richard a talented and passionate singer, but his life story is inspiring to many. By the time American audiences saw him on TV, he’d been working as a janitor in an elementary school in Indiana, and had recently gone through the saddening passing of his wife of decades.
Now that Richard is no longer an underdog but an “America’s Got Talent” winner, it’s inevitable for people to wonder what’s going on with him now, how rich he’s become since winning the show, and whatever is going on with his romantic life. Learn about this and more in this video!
What’s Richard Goodall’s Net Worth?
Besides fame and recognition, one big reason for “America’s Got Talent” contestants to take part in the show, is the possibility of winning its juicy $1 million prize. Granted, only one person per season has what it takes to take all that money home – in the case of Richard Goodall, that dream became a reality when he became the show’s winner in late 2024.
It’s unlikely that Richard made a fortune out of his job as a school janitor and former casual singer, especially considering that he got the money to travel to “America’s Got Talent” through an online funding campaign. Richard’s financial situation after his $1 million victory is also widely unknown, as the show’s winners don’t receive their prize in full, but instead are offered two options.
One of those is an annuity of around $25,000, which is paid in full for four decades, more or less. According to Forbes, the annuity is pre-tax, so it takes some patience from winners to receive their full prize. The other option is to be paid a post-tax amount right after their victory but as the financial website stated, that payment is not $1 million but around $150,000.
While the “America’s Got Talent” payment system makes sense, it also makes it clear that Richard and other winners don’t become rich right away.
His Current Lifestyle
It’s usually expected that music stars enjoy a top-notch lifestyle full of luxuries. It’s a different story for Richard Goodall though, who has enjoyed the best that his “America’s Got Talent” prize has to offer while not giving up on his humility.
As seen on Richard’s social media posts since his applauded victory, he’s been performing in festivals and events around the US, such as the Indiana-based Vigo County History Center and California’s Festival of Lights. In 2024, one candid Instagram post with pics taken from planes’ windows had Richard expressing how fascinated he was at being able to fly while taking his music everywhere.
Regarding his plans for the future, Richard told The Indy Star that he has plans to move into a double-trailer house and retire to Florida However, in a different interview with People, Richard also affirmed that he wanted to get a ‘nice house’ for himself and his new wife, and ‘give back to people’ with his “America’s Got Talent” money. On top of that, it’s also confirmed that he hasn’t left his janitor job at the elementary school.
Whatever option Richard eventually chooses, everything points to him keeping on living a humble life.
Marriage
One of the most endearing aspects of Richard Goodall’s life story is how he was able to find love again in his 50s and after suffering from tragedy. His now-wife Angela Vanoven was who first encouraged Richard to audition for “America’s Got Talent”.
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Unlike the humble Richard who only expected to participate and come home with a great story, Angie was confident that he was going to make it to the end of the series, as the singer commented in an interview with BBC Insider. As Richard advanced in the competition and became a fan favorite, he and Angie indulged in the moment’s excitement by tying the knot a couple of days before the show’s grand finale. The ceremony was held in California with their close ones and some “America’s Got Talent” staff members in attendance.
Though not much is known about Angie and how she and Richard got together, there’s no doubt that she played a big role in his success.
What Happened To His Previous Wife?
Richard was previously married to Patricia Sue Goodall, who sadly died from cancer in June 2021. According to her online obituary, Patricia was 74 years old at the time of her passing and was the mother of three children, one of whom she’d welcomed with Richard.
Patricia and Richard have several grandchildren as well, though no further details are known about the couple except that they’d been together for 30 years.
The loss seemed to be as heartbreaking as it sounds, though, as in June 2021, a then-unknown Richard posted an Instagram picture of himself and Patricia in which he wrote: ‘I’m so sorry. I did my best but my best wasn’t good enough. Cancer is like getting punched in the gut.’
As Richard told The Indy Star, his late wife’s absence led him to try to figure out who he was without her, affirming that it was natural after being married for so long to feel a ‘void’ without her. Nonetheless, he found a way to connect his sadness and his search for self-knowledge by seeking refuge in music.
Plans For The Future
Besides his revealed plans of possibly retiring to Florida and purchasing a home, it’s unclear what Richard Goodall is planning to do in the future. However, considering that one of the prizes of “America’s Got Talent” is a music contract, it’s highly likely that he’s currently working on releasing an album.
So what else should we expect from Richard? Only time will tell what he has in store for us, but his talent and charm with which he conquered American audiences will surely keep him relevant in everyone’s hearts.
