List of prizes for evidence of the paranormal

Paranormal challenges, often posed by groups or individuals who self-identify as skeptics or rationalists, publicly challenge those who claim to possess paranormal abilities to demonstrate that they in fact possess them, and are not fraudulent or self-deceptive.[2]

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Could a wristband product improve a person's balance? A pre-test of the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge during TAM 2012.[1]

Process

After establishing procedures and measures of success agreed upon beforehand between the challengers and the claimants, a challenge is usually divided into two steps, the first being a "preliminary test" or "pre-test", where claimants can show their purported abilities under controlled conditions before a small audience, before being admitted to the final test. Sometimes these pre-tests have a smaller prize attached to them.[4] Several local organisations have set up challenges that serve as pre-tests to larger prizes such as the JREF's One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge[1][5][6] or the 2012–2013 SKEPP Sisyphus Prize (for one million euros).[7][8]

History

In 1922, Scientific American made two US$2,500 offers: (1) for the first authentic spirit photograph made under test conditions, and (2) for the first psychic to produce a "visible psychic manifestation."[9] Harry Houdini was a member of the investigating committee. The first medium to be tested was George Valiantine, who claimed that in his presence spirits would speak through a trumpet that floated around a darkened room. For the test, Valiantine was placed in a room, the lights were extinguished, but unbeknownst to him his chair had been rigged to light a signal in an adjoining room if he left his seat. Because the light signals were tripped during his performance, Valiantine did not collect the award.[2]

Since then, many individuals and groups have offered similar monetary awards for proof of the paranormal in an observed setting.[2] Indian rationalist Abraham Kovoor's challenge in 1963 inspired American skeptic James Randi's prize in 1964,[10] which became the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge. In 2003, these prizes were calculated to have a combined value of US$2,326,500.[11] As of January 2015, none of the prizes have been awarded. The James Randi paranormal challenge was officially terminated in 2015.[12] As of 2018, these prizes combine to approximately US$1,024,215. However, they take place in multiple countries and the conditions to be met may vary considerably.

List of standing prizes
DateLocationChallengersOffered prizeEquivalent in U.S. dollarsDetailsStatus
2014–Czech RepublicCzech Skeptics' Club Sisyfos3,425,000 Czech koruna$160,671To anyone who can prove to possess paranormal abilities in areas such as clairvoyance, telepathy, telekinesis, rhabdomancy, etc.[3]Unclaimed
1999–ChinaSima Nan1,000,000 Chinese yuan$157,913"[T]o anyone who can perform one act of "special ability” without cheating."[13]Unclaimed
1984–IndiaTarksheel Society10,000,000 Indian rupees$150,110To anyone who can perform any of 22 specified "miracles". The entry fee is 10,000 INR.[14]Unclaimed
2000–United StatesCenter for Inquiry Investigations Group250,000 dollars$250,000[15]:43:15"[T]o anyone who can show, 'under proper observing conditions', evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event." The person who refers a successful applicant to the CFIIG earns US$5,000.[16]Unclaimed
1980–AustraliaAustralian Skeptics100,000 Australian dollars$75,820For proof of the existence of extrasensory perception, telepathy, or telekinesis.[17]Unclaimed
1985–IndiaScience and Rationalists' Association of India, Prabir Ghosh5,000,000 Indian rupees$75,055Prabir Ghosh will award the prize "to any person of this world who can demonstrate his/her supernormal power by performing any one of the following activities without taking help of any hoax/trick at my designated place and circumstances."[18]Unclaimed. However, the challenger has admitted that they do not possess that amount of money.[19]
1994–New ZealandStuart Landsborough, New Zealand Skeptics100,000 New Zealand dollars$70,791"[T]o anyone who could prove by psychic ability that they can indicate the exact location" of two halves of a promissory note hidden within an area of 100 metres inside Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World. Over the years, the search area has been reduced from 5 kilometres to 100 metres and the prize doubled, but the note split in two to reduce the chance of winning by sheer luck.[20] Contestants have to donate NZ$1,000 to charity if they fail.[21]Unclaimed
2000–ItalyAlfredo Barrago's Bet, CICAP50,000 Euro$60,737"[...] shown at least a 'phenomenon' produced by 'medium, seers, sensitive etc.' of paranormal nature."[22]Unclaimed
2002–BelgiumSKEPP Sisyphus Prize25,000 Euro$30,368The original Sisyphus Prize was €10,000. Between 2012 and 2013, for the duration of one year, an anonymous Antwerp businessman raised the prize €1,000,000, while several European skeptical organisations attached their pre-tests to it.[8][23] Afterwards, the regular Sisyphus Prize was continued and raised from €10,000 to €25,000.[4]Unclaimed
2013–Great BritainAssociation for Skeptical Enquiry12,000 British pounds$16,535For proof of psychic powers.[2]Unclaimed
2015–RussiaHarry Houdini Prize1,000,000 Russian rubles$16,096The prize is awarded for demonstrating paranormal or supernatural abilities under conditions scientifically valid experiment.[24][25]Unclaimed
2001–United StatesNorth Texas Skeptics12,000 dollars$12,000"[T]o any person ... who can demonstrate any psychic or paranormal power or ability under scientifically valid observing conditions."[2][26]Unclaimed
1997–Great BritainLavkesh Prasha, Asian Rationalist Society of Britain10,000 British pounds$13,779"[T]o any person who could prove to possess magical powers before the media and scientists." The initial amount of £2,000 was increased fivefold in 2006 to attract more applicants.[27][28]Unclaimed
2008–EstoniaEesti Skeptik10,000 Euro$12,147To anyone who can prove paranormal abilities.[29]Unclaimed
2004–GermanyGWUP10,000 Euro$12,147To anyone who can prove paranormal abilities.[30][31]Unclaimed
1989–FinlandSkepsis ry (Finnish Association of Skeptics)10,000 Euro$12,147For anybody in Finland who can produce paranormal phenomena under satisfactory observing conditions or prove that she/he/it is an extraterrestrial by providing a DNA (or equivalent) sample for investigation. Money partially from astronomer Hannu Karttunen and magician Iiro Seppänen.[32]Unclaimed
1988–NetherlandsStichting Skepsis10,000 Euro$12,147To anyone who wants their "alternative diagnoses" (including kinesiology, electroacupuncture, bioresonance therapy, Therapeutic Touch, observing auras, clairvoyance, iridology, pendulum dowsing, astrology) to be tested; winning the pre-test earns €500.[33] Skepsis' first challenge in March 1988 was ƒ10,000 to any "psychic surgeon" who could remove chairman Cornelis de Jager's appendix.[34]Unclaimed
Unknown–SwedenSwedish Humanist Association100,000 Swedish krona$11,550To anyone who can demonstrate a paranormal or supernatural ability for which no scientific explanation can be found.[35]Unclaimed
1996–CanadaLes Sceptiques du Quebec10,000 Canadian dollars$7785"Just a small fact, observable or verifiable through experiment" of a paranormal phenomenon.[5]Unclaimed
2012–Sri LankaSri Lankan Rationalist Association1,000,000 Sri Lankan rupees$6341Professor Carlo Fonseka renewed Abraham Kovoor's challenge.[36]Unclaimed
Unknown–United StatesFayetteville Freethinkers5000 dollars$5000"[F]or a demonstration of supernatural claims".[37]Unclaimed
1976–IndiaIndian Skeptic, Indian CSICOP100,000 Indian rupees$1501Formerly moderated by Basava Premanand, deceased in 2009. Offered after Abraham Kovoor fell ill with cancer in 1976.[38] Premanand's magazine and organization have continued the challenge after his death in 2009.[39]Unclaimed
1995–IndiaIndian Rationalist Association, Sanal Edamaruku100,000 Indian rupees$1501To anyone who could prove the 1995 "Hindu milk miracle" was, in fact, a miracle.[40] Since 2002, it includes "anyone who can provide scientific evidence for iridology".[41]Unclaimed
2011–MexicoDaniel Zepeda20,000 Mexican pesos$1074"To anyone who can show, under proper observational and replicable conditions, evidence of a paranormal, supernatural or occult power for which science has no answer."[42]Unclaimed
1989–United StatesTampa Bay Skeptics1000 dollars$1,000"[T]o anyone able to demonstrate any paranormal phenomenon under mutually agreed-upon observing conditions."[2][43]Unclaimed

List of defunct prizes
DateLocationChallengersOffered prizeEquivalent in dollarsDetailsStatus
1964–2015United StatesJREF, One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge1,000,000 dollars$1,000,000Launched by James Randi as $1,000 in 1964,[44] raised to $10,000 by 1980,[45] to $100,000 by 1989,[46] and finally to a million in 1996.[47] Since the launch of the James Randi Educational Foundation, applications were processed and tests prepared and conducted by a committee.[44] In 2015 the challenge was officially terminated.Unclaimed. A participant dubbed "Yellow Bamboo" claimed they passed an unofficial preliminary test, but the JREF determined the test was not conducted or recorded as specified.[48][49]
1987–2002FranceGérard Majax, Henri Broch, Jacques Theodor, International Zetetic Challenge200,000 Euro$242,949Mediums and clairvoyants were challenged to show their powers, but all 275 candidates allegedly failed.[50]Unclaimed
1928–1995United StatesJoseph Dunninger, Houdini Magical Hall of Fame31,000 dollars$31,000To anyone who can cause a suspended pencil in a sealed box to write a message on a pad of paper, also in the box.[51][52]Unclaimed
2012IndiaTarksheel Society1,000,000 Indian rupees$15,011To anyone who could correctly predict the election results in five Indian state assemblies.[53]Unclaimed
2014IndiaFederation of Indian Rationalist Associations1,000,000 Indian rupees$15,011Correctly answer 21 out of 25 questions relating to future election results. Intended for astrologers, but open to anyone.[54]Unclaimed
1985–1988United StatesParanormal Investigating Committee of Pittsburgh10,000 dollars$10,000"[T]o anyone who can demonstrate successfully a psychic claim in a controlled examination."[55][56]Unclaimed
2007–2009United StatesSanad Rashed, Ahmed Khaled Tawfik5000 dollars$5000For proof ouija boards function as claimed.Unclaimed
2008IndiaFederation of Indian Rationalist Associations200,000 Indian rupees$3002Correctly answer 21 out of 25 questions relating to future election results. Intended for astrologers, but open to anyone.[57]Unclaimed
1922United StatesScientific American2500 dollars$2500Two $2,500 offers: (1) for the first authentic spirit photograph made under test conditions, or (2) for the first psychic to produce a "visible psychic manifestation."[2][9]Unclaimed
Unknown–2005United StatesNew York Area Skeptics2000 dollars$2000Awarded to the successful completion of the JREF One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge.Unclaimed
1963–1978Sri LankaAbraham Kovoor100,000 Sri Lankan rupees$634Kovoor initiated the Abraham Kovoor's challenge starting in 1963. He inspired others like Randi and Premanand. He died in 1978.[10]Unclaimed
2012–2013EstoniaEesti Skeptik500 Euro$607Awarded to anyone who passed the Estonian preliminary test to the Belgian Sisyphus Prize.[58]Unclaimed
2012–2013Great BritainAssociation for Skeptical Enquiry400 British pounds$551Awarded to anyone who passed the British preliminary test to the Belgian Sisyphus Prize.[7]Unclaimed

See also

References
  1. Richard Saunders (6 September 2012). "The Million Dollar Challenge at TAM 2012". JREF Swift Blog. James Randi Educational Foundation. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  2. Robert Todd Carroll (19 June 2014). "Randi $1,000,000 paranormal challenge". The Skeptic's Dictionary. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  3. "Paranormální výzva". Falešní hráči (in Czech). The Real Bohemian. 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  4. "Sisyphus prijs". SKEPP website (in Dutch). SKEPP. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  5. "Défi sceptique : bourses de 10 000 $ et un million de dollars américains" (in French). Les Sceptiques de Québec. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  6. Corinna Sachs (12 October 2004). "Übersinnliche Phänomene im Test" (PDF). Quarks & Co (in German). WDR. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  7. "The Sisyphus Prize Pre-Test. Rules for applicants to ASKE". ASKE website. Association for Skeptical Enquiry. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  8. Joep Engels (30 September 2012). "Win een miljoen met het lezen van tarotkaarten". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  9. Bird, J. Malcolm (December 1922). "A Square Deal for the Psychics". Scientific American. Vol. 127 no. 6. New York, NY: Scientific American Publishing Company. pp. 388–389, 443–445 – via HathiTrust.
  10. "Abraham Kovoor". Thought & Action. Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  11. Larsen, Claus (September 2003). "Get Rich Quick or Save the World". Skeptic Report. Archived from the original on 23 March 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2007.
  12. "JREF Status". JREF. September 1, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  13. Mainfort, Donald (March 1999). "Sima Nan: Fighting Qigong Pseudoscience in China". Skeptical Inquirer. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. 9 (1). Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  14. "Our Challenge – Win Rupees 1 Crore". Tarksheel Society. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  15. "POINT OF INQUIRY podcast: Dec. 12, 2019". pointofinquiry.org/. CFI. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  16. "The IIG $100,000 Challenge". IIG website. Independent Investigations Group. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  17. "The $100,000 Challenge". AS website. Australian Skeptics. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  18. Prabir Ghosh (22 June 2010). "Challenge to all 'supernatural' and 'paranormal' power holders/ astrologers etc". SRAI website. Science and Rationalists' Association of India. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  19. "page 03 - KOLKATA Edition - salam duniya epaper kolkata - salam duniya epaper kolkata". salamduniya.in.
  20. Stuart Landsborough. "What is the Psychic Challenge?". Stuart Landsborough's $100,000 Psychic Challenge. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  21. Stuart Landsborough. "Rules of the Challenge". Stuart Landsborough's $100,000 Psychic Challenge. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  22. "Telefono Antiplagio". Antiplagio.org. 2000. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  23. Jan Bosteels (3 July 2013). "Hoe meet je iets dat niet bestaat? SKEPP voert eerste test van 1 miljoen uit". Knack (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  24. Правила премии (in Russian). Премия имени Гарри Гудини. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  25. Шутова Е. (2015-07-24). Миллион за колдовство. Наука → Мракобесие (in Russian). ЗАО «Газета.Ру». Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  26. Gregory H. Aicklen; John F. Blanton; Prasad N. Golla; Mike Selby; John A. Thomas. "The North Texas Skeptics Paranormal Challenge". NTS website. North Texas Skeptics. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  27. Indo-Asian News Service (7 December 2005). "NRI group gets cracking on Asian occultists in Britain". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  28. Indo-Asian News Service (14 January 2006). "Asian rationalists in UK dare tantriks". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  29. Martin Vällik (16 March 2008). "10000 €". skeptik.ee (in Estonian). Eesti Skeptik. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  30. Nestler, Ralf (21 August 2009). "Die Macht der Strahlen". Zeit Wissen (in German). Zeitverlag Gerd Bucerius. 5. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  31. "Eine kurze Geschichte der GWUP" (in German). GWUP website. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  32. "Skepsis in English". Skepsis website. Skepsis ry. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  33. Rob Nanninga & Jan Willem Nienhuys. "Alternatieve diagnoses kunnen op de proef worden gesteld". Skepsis website (in Dutch). Stichting Skepsis. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  34. Paalman, Jan (September 1988). "Psychochirurgie. Opereren met blote handen". Skepter (in Dutch). Stichting Skepsis. 1 (3): 28.
  35. "Kristallkulan". SHA website (in Swedish). Swedish Humanist Association. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  36. Padma Rao Sundarji (27 November 2014). "What is it with us and scandalous Swamis?". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  37. "About the Fayetteville Freethinkers". Fayetteville Freethinkers. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  38. Basava Premanand (15 October 1998). "The Challenge". Indian Skeptic website. Indian CSICOP. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  39. Basava Premanand (29 August 1998). "Rules for the Paranormal Challenge". Indian Skeptic website. Indian CSICOP. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  40. Chris Lefkow (22 September 1995). ""Milk Miracle" – or "Mass Hysteria"?". The Nepal Digest archive. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  41. Lewis Wolpert (22 March 2002). "Science: a magical show of scepticism". The Independent.
  42. Daniel Zepeda (17 August 2011). "Reto Paranormal de Papá Escéptico" (in Spanish). Papá Escéptico. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  43. "$$$ Challenges". TBS website. Tampa Bay Skeptics. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  44. "The Million Dollar Challenge". Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  45. Timothy Ferris (23 November 1980). "Nonfiction in brief". The New York Times.
  46. "Are you psychic?". St. Petersburg Times. 2 April 1989.
  47. Wendy Grossman (9 December 1996). "Science: Putting psychics to the test. An arch-sceptic is offering $1m in a challenge to belief in the paranormal, writes Wendy Grossman". The Independent. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  48. Randi, James (October 17, 2003). "Yellow Bamboo Analysis". Swift (newsletter). JREF.
  49. Randi, James (October 3, 2003). "Yellow Bamboo is Bent". Swift (newsletter). JREF.
  50. "Z comme zététique, ou le pourfendeur du paranormal" (in French). Agence France-Presse. 8 September 2006.
  51. Gibson, Walter B. (August 1977). "$31,000 Magic Challenge". Houdini's Magic Magazine. Vol. 1 no. 1. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Stories Layouts & Press Inc. pp. 18–22, 92.
  52. Hagarty, David A. (c. 1981). On the Inside at the Houdini Magical Hall of Fame. Niagara Falls, Canada: Magic Museums Limited. p. 29.
  53. Neel Kamal (20 February 2012). "Assembly elections: Predict winners and win Rs 1 crore!". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  54. "'Astrologers biggest losers in 2014 Elections' – Humanists". The Siasat Daily. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  55. Bee Paul Hirschl. "In pursuit of the paranormal". Google News Archive. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  56. Dorma McHattie. "Psychic Illusionist Program". Google News Archive. Beaver County Times. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  57. Jeevan Mathew Kurian (13 June 2008). "He beats holy men at their own game". Thaindian News. Indo-Asian News Service. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  58. Martin Vällik (1 October 2012). "1 miljon eurot, kasvõi nõiavitsaga pildamise eest". skeptik.ee (in Estonian). Eesti Skeptik. Retrieved 6 January 2015.

Further reading
  • Christopher, Milbourne (1975), Mediums, Mystics & the Occult. Thomas Y. Crowell Co.
  • (in Dutch) Nanninga, Rob (1988), Parariteiten – een kritische blik op het paranormale. Het Spectrum.
  • Radin, Dean (2006), Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality. Paraview Pocket Books.
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