Love Island winner Cach Mercer has admitted that every penny of his £25,000 prize money has vanished after he spent it on helping his mother, clearing debts, and treating his ex-girlfriend Toni Laites after they left the villa.
Prize Money Spent Quickly
Cach and Toni, who won the ITV dating show and split the £50,000 prize fund, have revealed that their respective shares disappeared much faster than fans might expect. Speaking about his winnings, Cach laughed and said, "That's gone," when asked what happened to the cash.
Family First
Unlike some reality stars who rush to buy luxury items, Cach prioritised helping his family. He revealed, "I gave 10 to my mom," referring to £10,000 of his winnings.
After giving £10,000 to his mother, the remaining money quickly went on everyday expenses. "Some of it went on debts, just bills," he explained.
Life Before Love Island
Cach admitted that life after Love Island was not as glamorous as people might think. He revealed that he had already spent most of his personal savings before entering the villa. "I remember getting a call for Love Island and something in my system said I'm going on," he said.
Convinced he would make it onto the show, he treated himself to a holiday before filming began. "I remember spending my last bit of savings on a holiday. I went to Cayman Island and I was there for like a month." The trip was expensive, as he noted, "If you haven't been there, it's expensive as hell."
Adjusting to Life Outside the Villa
By the time he returned home, most of his savings were gone. "So when I came out with that £25k, after £10k had gone back to my mum and money had gone on bills, the rest of it was taking care of myself."
Cach also admitted that while he and Toni were still together after the show, he spent a lot on dates, taxis, and accommodation as they adjusted to life outside the villa. "I was getting cabs everywhere and taking her on dates all the time," he said.
Living Off Prize Money
The star explained that he was effectively living off the prize money while waiting for opportunities and brand deals after the series ended. Fortunately, things worked out in the long run. "Luckily I'm in a much better position now," he said.
Although Toni and Cach have since gone their separate ways romantically, neither of them will be relying on their Love Island winnings anytime soon.
