If you can prove Bigfoot is real, Hard Mountain Dew is willing to give you $1M

Bigfoot believers, your time has come. Hard Mountain Dew is willing to award a $1M prize to anyone who can provide convincing proof of Bigfoot’s existence. (There are a few caveats, though.)

The Bigfoot Bounty began on September 15, 2026, and runs through November 30, 2026, so Bigfoot hunters have until then to submit their evidence. Hard Mountain Dew is requiring a number of items that will qualify as proof, so the prize might be challenging to obtain. However, they’re also offering the cash equivalent of a 12-pack to 100 entrants who submit the best evidence.

The never-ending debate about Bigfoot’s existence rages on

The debate over whether Bigfoot exists is ongoing, and the answer to the question “Is he real?” will vary depending on who one asks. Plenty of people believe in Bigfoot’s existence, though. In fact, a town in Maine was sent into a frenzy of Bigfoot sightings only weeks ago (although the whole thing turned out to be an incredibly convincing hoax).

Sightings of Bigfoot have been numerous throughout the decades, and tend to ramp up when the weather turns cooler and people go outdoors for more hiking and hunting. Whether one is a true believer or not, it’s hard not to get caught up in the idea of a mysterious Sasquatch out there somewhere, just waiting to be found.

Hard Mountain Dew even brought on a believer in the form of Bigfoot researcher Bryce Johnson, known from the show Expedition Bigfoot, to help out with the competition. He aided the alcoholic beverage company in developing the standards for the evidence the Bigfoot Bounty will accept in its competition.

Hard evidence will be needed to win the $1M prize

Mountain Dew is requiring pretty strong evidence for contestants to win the prize. Hunters of Bigfoot who want to be considered must include four out of seven criteria. Plus, contestants can’t simply upload photos of the evidence. They also have to detail in writing how it proves Bigfoot exists.

The criteria that must be met includes: a footprint pressed into dirt and measuring 37–38.5 inches long, a handprint of at least 13 inches with a distinct shape or unusual characteristics, an actual photo of Bigfoot, an audio recording of unexplained sounds that match up with reported Sasquatch activity, thermal imaging showing a heat signature seven to nine feet tall moving at an estimated 20 to 25 mph in a forest, a hair follicle sample, or evidence of environmental debris with no visible cause.

As for why Hard Mountain Dew has decided to offer a reward for Bigfoot evidence, according to Dexerto, Erica Taylor, senior brand director, explained, “Hard Mountain Dew has always been about chasing bold experiences, and Bigfoot Bounty takes that mindset to the next level. Every fall, someone’s got a story of a shape in the trees or a sound they can’t explain. Whether you catch Bigfoot or just catch a good story trying, there’s nothing better than an ice-cold Hard Mountain Dew at the end of the hunt.”

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