It’s been a life-changing week for Jake Balanovich.
The Florida high school quarterback took on retired quarterback Tom Brady in a throwing contest hosted by YouTuber MrBeast last week and was able to secure the victory over the NFL legend.
He earned $100,000 for the victory and spoke with TMZ Sports about his plans for the prize money.
“Just planning on being smart with that money, not blowing it on anything dumb,” Balanovich said.
He did note that he is considering buying himself “a nice pair of shoes” or treating himself to a light “shopping spree” to celebrate the win. He also noted his new celebrity status at school and said he has even been asked to take pictures with peers.
“Things have definitely changed,” Balanovich said. “I’ve taken a few pictures with people. It’s getting a little crazy but nothing too wild.”
Balanovich is a senior at Cypress Bay High School in Weston and led the team to a 6-4 record. He threw for 1,551 yards with 14 touchdowns while also adding 853 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. He recently received his first offer from Lake Forest College but noted that he has received more recruiting interest since the viral video.
As he prepares for the next stage of his football career, his achievement will give him some extra cash and an excellent story.