
Deal or No Deal is a reality TV game show that first aired in 2005. Contestants play to win a cash prize by choosing briefcases that contain varying amounts of money. The Banker is a mysterious figure who oversees the game and interacts with the host. The Banker's identity is often concealed, and they are known for making cruel offers to contestants. In Season 1 of Deal or No Deal Island, the Banker was revealed to be Howie Mandel, the original host of the show. For Season 2, the Banker was former briefcase model Chrissy Teigen. Other women who have been speculated to take on the role include Meghan Markle, Claudia Jordan, Stacey Gardner, and Amanza Smith.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the show | Deal or No Deal |
| Season | 2 |
| Name of the Banker | Chrissy Teigen |
| Previous briefcase model | Case number 12 |
| Other Contenders for Banker | Claudia Jordan, Stacey Gardner, Meghan Markle |
| Previous Bankers | Howie Mandel, Carrie Lauren, Peter Abbay |
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What You'll Learn

Meghan Markle as a former briefcase model
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was a briefcase model on the game show "Deal or No Deal" in 2006 and 2007. She held briefcase number 24 and appeared in 34 episodes. During her time on the show, Markle was one of 25 women who opened briefcases as part of the game. She has since reflected on her experience, stating that she felt objectified and reduced to her looks. She recalled being told to "suck it in" and feeling forced to conform to a cookie-cutter idea of precisely what we should look like.
Markle worked on "Deal or No Deal" while auditioning for acting roles after studying at Northwestern University. She has stated that she was grateful for the job and the health insurance it provided, but it made her feel uncomfortable as she was being valued solely for her appearance rather than her intelligence. She decided to quit the show in 2006 due to these reasons.
Markle is not the only famous face to have graced the "Deal or No Deal" stage as a briefcase model. Other notable models include Chrissy Teigen, Amanza Smith, and Claudia Jordan. Jordan held briefcase number 1 from 2005 to 2009 and has since appeared on reality television shows such as "Celebrity Apprentice" and "The Real Housewives of Atlanta". Teigen, a model, author, and wife of singer John Legend, appeared on the pilot and first season of the show before gaining further fame as a model and television personality. Smith, who held briefcase number 19 on seasons 4 and 5, has also gained recognition for her role on the Netflix show "Selling Sunset".
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Claudia Jordan, a briefcase model and Real Housewife
Claudia Angela Jordan, born on April 12, 1973, in Providence, Rhode Island, is an American talk show host, actress, model, businesswoman, and reality television and radio personality. Jordan is known for her appearances as a briefcase model on the American version of Deal or No Deal, The Price Is Right, and The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Jordan was one of the inaugural briefcase models on Deal or No Deal when it premiered in 2005, holding briefcase #9 during the premiere week, and later holding briefcase #1 for the rest of her four-season tenure on the show.
Jordan has also competed on seasons 2 and 6 of The Celebrity Apprentice, as well as the first season of Deal or No Deal Island, where she was a contestant rather than a briefcase model. Jordan has an extensive career in reality television and radio, including hosting a radio show on Sirius/XM Radio called "The Claudia Jordan Show". She has also appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta for its seventh season, returning as a guest for seasons 8, 13, and 15. Jordan is currently expressing interest in a Housewives comeback, specifically in the potential reboot of The Real Housewives of Dallas.
Jordan is not the only contestant on Deal or No Deal Island with past reality show experience. Rob Mariano, also known as "Boston Rob", is a Survivor veteran. However, Jordan is the only contestant with experience as a briefcase model, which could give her an advantage in the game. While Jordan has experience with the iconic briefcases, she is now in a position to pick one, competing to win on Deal or No Deal Island.
While Jordan is a well-known figure on Deal or No Deal, it is unclear if she is the woman banker on the show. The Season 1 finale of Deal or No Deal Island revealed that the Banker is Howie Mandel. However, with the introduction of a new female banker in Season 2, there has been much speculation about who it could be. While Jordan has been suggested as a possible candidate, it is unclear if she will indeed be the one to fill this role.
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Stacey Gardner, an attorney, model and actress
Stacey Gardner, born on November 6, 1980, is an American model, attorney, and actress from Beverly Hills, California. She is best known for her role as Briefcase Model #2 on the NBC game show Deal or No Deal, which she landed in 2005. In one episode, she even took over the hosting duties when Howie Mandel marched with the other models.
Stacey Gardner is not your typical model. She is beautiful and witty, but she also has a passion for law. She graduated from Southwestern Law School, passed the bar exam in 2005, and is now a practicing attorney. She has pursued a career in modelling and television, appearing in high-fashion salon ads and on the Style network. She has also been featured as a red carpet host for FOX Sports.
In addition to her careers in law and modelling, Gardner has also ventured into acting. She is known for her roles in Deal or No Deal (2005 and 2006) and Untold (2021). She has been married to Mardy Fish since 2008.
Stacey Gardner has expressed her desire to combine her modelling and legal background into a reality television show. In this envisioned show, contestants would act as defence counsel and prosecutors, arguing a case through to completion. With her diverse talents and pursuits, Stacey Gardner has become a notable figure in the entertainment industry.
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Chrissy Teigen, the season 2 banker
Chrissy Teigen is the Banker on Season 2 of Deal or No Deal Island. Teigen was revealed as the Banker in the season finale, marking a full circle moment for her, as she was the original case number 12 briefcase model when the game show first launched in 2005.
Host Joe Manganiello hinted that the season's Banker would "'make sense' and have "'roots in Deal or No Deal'". Teigen's history with the franchise and her love for reality TV made her the perfect candidate for the role.
Teigen's presence in the original series and her connection to NBC through her work on the network and her husband John Legend's appearances on The Voice made her a strong contender for the Banker role.
While her identity was kept a secret until the finale, small clues were given to the players throughout the season, such as a box of swimsuits and the name of her cookbook.
Showrunner Matt Kunitz confirmed that the franchise plans to keep switching up its bankers, stating: "We feel like there's this secret society of bankers. It's fun to meet a lot of these different bankers, so I feel that probably there will be a new surprise banker every season."
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Carrie Lauren, the actress who played the banker in the CNBC version
The actress who played the banker in the CNBC version of Deal or No Deal is Carrie Lauren. She starred in the show's brief revival on CNBC from 2018 to 2019.
Lauren is an actress with credits in Magic Mike and the TV series Greenleaf, among other projects. She is known for her role as the banker in the CNBC revival series, which aired from 2018 to 2019. The banker's silhouette was visible behind the stage, and she occasionally interacted with host Howie Mandel.
The banker is the villain of the show, making low offers to contestants in the hopes that they will accept them, leaving a lot of money on the table. The identity of the banker was kept hidden throughout the original run of the show, with the mysterious figure only appearing as a silhouette.
In the first season of the CNBC revival, Howie Mandel was revealed as the banker. Mandel had also been the original host of Deal or No Deal, where he would take calls from the banker and advocate for contestants when he felt they were getting a bad offer. In the second season of the revival, the banker was a woman, and internet sleuths correctly identified her as Carrie Lauren.
The showrunners have stated that they plan to switch up the banker every season, choosing individuals with roots in the Deal or No Deal universe. For example, Chrissy Teigen, who was the banker in Season 2 of the revival, was Deal or No Deal's original case number 12 briefcase model.
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Frequently asked questions
The female banker on Deal or No Deal Island Season 1 is Carrie Lauren.
The female banker on Deal or No Deal Island Season 2 is Chrissy Teigen.
The banker on the USA version is played by actor Peter Abbay.
The female banker on the CNBC version is played by actress Carrie Lauren.











































