Squid Game: The Challenge Cast - Meet the Main Contestants

Image credits: Netflix

Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge is a reality TV show inspired by the sensational South Korean series of the same name. The Squid Game: The Challenge cast consists of 456 real-life contestants who compete for a $4.56 million prize—the most generous cash prize in reality TV history—by competing in deceptively simple children’s games.

Even among hundreds of contestants, some participants’ personalities stand out from others, revealing their traits, values, morals, and more.

So, if you’re interested in learning more about the show’s contestants, keep reading!

In this article, we’ll analyze the personalities of the 14 most prominent Squid Game: The Challenge characters and uncover their personality types.

Key Contestants From the “Squid Game: The Challenge” Cast

Without further ado, let’s explore the personality types of the most notable contestants in the show, from Bryton (#432) to Sam (#188):

Player 432: Bryton Constantin

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #432 Bryton. Credits: Netflix

Age: 21

Occupation: Student

Personality type: ESTP

Instagram: @brytonconstantin

Bryton (#432) is a 21-year-old student from South Carolina who embodies the ESTP (Entrepreneur) personality type to a T.

As a typical ESTP, Bryton is competitive, bold, initiative-driven, impatient, and outgoing. He has a “high risk, high reward” approach to the game and eagerly takes charge of situations. Confident to the point of coming across as arrogant, Bryton doesn’t hesitate to speak his mind and cares more about winning the game than maintaining good relationships with others.

Player 182: TJ Stukes

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #182 TJ. Credits: Netflix

Age: 38

Occupation: Basketball player

Personality type: ENFJ

Instagram: @tjstukes68

TJ (#182) is a 38-year-old former professional basketball player from Texas who belongs to the ENFJ (Teacher) personality type.

TJ comes across as a natural-born leader, much like most ENFJs. Brave and enthusiastic, he leads by example, emphasizing the importance of humility and gratitude not only through his words but also through his actions. Even though TJ is friendly and collaborative, he’s also rather competitive, continuing to fight even when the chances of winning are extremely slim.

Player 161: Lorenzo Nobilo

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #161 Lorenzo. Credits: Netflix

Age: 26

Occupation: Asset Manager

Personality type: ESFP

Instagram: @only.lorenzo

Lorenzo (#161), a 26-year-old Italian asset manager residing in the United Kingdom, closely resembles the ESFP (Entertainer) personality type.

As a strong introverted feeling (Fi) user, Lorenzo values authenticity. As such, he expresses himself freely and would rather come off as rude than fake being nice. He keeps his eye on the prize and looks out only for himself, investing little to no effort into forming alliances with other players. Like most ESFPs, he is opportunistic and has no shortage of self-confidence.

Player 299: Spencer Hawkins

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #299 Spencer. Credits: Netflix

Age: 21

Occupation: Software Engineer

Personality type: ISFJ

Instagram: @spencer_299

Spencer (#299) is a 21-year-old software engineer from North Carolina who belongs to the ISFJ (Defender) personality type.

Spencer can be best described as kind-hearted, naive, and selfless. He cares deeply about other people and seeks to build close relationships with them. Unfortunately, he’s empathetic to the fault and has a hard time standing up for himself. Gullible and sweet-natured, Spencer is very vulnerable to peer pressure, which becomes clear as day during the Dalgona game.

Player 301: Trey Plutnicki

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #301 Trey. Credits: Netflix

Age: 25

Occupation: Delivery Driver

Personality type: INFP

Instagram: @choochootreyn

Trey (#301) is a 25-year-old delivery driver from Illinois with the INFP (Mediator) personality type.

INFPs are known to be kind, selfless, and idealistic, and Trey is no exception. He joined Squid Game: The Challenge with his mom, LeAnn (#302), in hopes of using the winnings to help his family pay off their mortgage and recover from the financial loss he suffered due to a lung collapse.

While his humility and willingness to cooperate are admirable, Trey avoids confrontation at all costs—even if it puts him at risk of elimination.

Player 302: LeAnn Wilcox Plutnicki

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #302 LeAnn. Credits: Netflix

Age: 64

Occupation: Retiree

Personality type: ENFJ

Instagram: @leannwplutnicki

LeAnn (#302), a 64-year-old retired The New York Times editor from New Jersey, is a classic example of a female ENFJ.

As a dominant extraverted feeling (Fe) user, LeAnn is warm, charming, and peace-loving. Although she strongly dislikes rude players, she isn’t intimidated by them. On the contrary, she openly calls them out and sometimes even utilizes her motherly charm to break down their emotional walls, as she did with Bryton (#432).

Moreover, LeAnn is highly competitive. She doesn’t back down, even when she goes head-to-head with her son, Trey (#301).

Player 243: Stephen Lomas

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #243 Stephen. Credits: Netflix

Age: 30

Occupation: Business owner

Personality type: ENFP

Instagram: @stephengokulomas

Stephen (#243) is a 30-year-old owner of a moving company from Missouri who belongs to the ENFP (Champion) personality type.

As an extrovert, Stephen believes that forming alliances is key to winning the game, which may be why he came to the show together with his best friend, Chase (#242).

Being highly in touch with his feelings, Stephen admits he’s sad when Chase gets eliminated. This honesty only helps him bond with other players, and it doesn’t take long before Stephen and Rick (#232) become the heart and soul of the newly established Gganbu gang.

Player 232: Rick Mercurio

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #232 Rick. Credits: Netflix

Age: 69

Occupation: Physician

Personality type: ISFJ

Instagram: @dr.rick.mercurio

Rick (#232), a physician from Pennsylvania, is another member of the Squid Game: The Challenge cast with an ISFJ personality type.

Modest and cooperative, Rick places a high value on interpersonal relationships. He’s incredibly loyal not only to Stephen (#243) but also to the entire Gganbu gang. As a true male ISFJ, he is more comfortable supporting the leader than assuming leadership roles.

Rick also has numerous hobbies and interests, which might indicate that he has a well-developed inferior extraverted intuition (Ne) function.

Player 097: Jada Sasha

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #097 Credits: Netflix

Age: 24

Occupation: Marketing coordinator

Personality type: ESFP

Instagram: @itsjadasasha

Jada (#097), a 24-year-old marketing coordinator from New Jersey, is a female ESFP. Having donated a kidney to her brother, she hopes to give away some of her winnings to donor assistance centers.

As a dominant extraverted sensing (Se) user, Jada is thrilled to immerse herself fully in the game, though she isn’t too happy about not having her skincare products in the dorm.

While it’s undeniable that she’s very generous, her actions don’t always align with her words, as she stole a burger shortly after criticizing another player for stealing food.

Player 018: Bianca ‘Bee’ Sarafian

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #018 Bee. Credits: Netflix

Age: 28

Occupation: Gaming industry professional

Personality type: INTJ

Instagram: @droneebee_

Bee (#018)—a 28-year-old games industry professional from the United Kingdom—is an INTJ (Mastermind) through and through.

Like any INTJ woman, Bee is very rational, individualistic, and loyal to herself and her beliefs. Despite being rather independent, she eventually joins the women’s alliance.

However, her most prominent trait is, without a doubt, her intelligence. Not only has she shown off her outstanding strategic thinking skills during the Warships game, but she also joined Mensa when she was just 13 years old.

Player 278: Ashley Tolbert

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #278 Ashley. Credits: Netflix

Age: 30

Occupation: Civil rights investigator

Personality type: ESFP

Instagram: @a_tolb

Ashley (#278), a 30-year-old civil rights investigator from Georgia, is another player with the ESFP personality type. Toward the end of the game show, though, she exhibits rather unhealthy traits, such as selfishness, manipulation, and hypocrisy.

Ashley forms a very close bond with Phalisia (#229), but she shows little regard for other players. Playing to win rather than to make friends, she only keeps her side of the bargain when it benefits her. In other words, she doesn’t hesitate to break agreements if it helps her survive and advance in the game.

Player 287: Mai Whelan

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #287 Mai. Credits: Netflix

Age: 55

Occupation: Immigration adjudicator

Personality type: ISTJ

Mai (#287) is a 55-year-old immigration adjudicator from Virginia with an ISTJ (Logistician) personality type.

Rational and strategic, she doesn’t trust people easily and chooses her alliances very carefully. At the same time, she’s unwaveringly loyal to those who deserve her trust, including Chad (#286) and TJ (#182). Like a true ISTJ woman, she holds people to high standards and isn’t afraid of standing up for what she believes is right, even when others condemn her actions.

Player 451: Phill Cain

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #451 Phill. Credits: Netflix

Age: 27

Occupation: Scuba instructor

Personality type: INFJ

Instagram: @avatarphill

Phill (#451), a 27-year-old scuba instructor from Hawaii, belongs to the INFJ (Counselor) personality type.

Phill describes themselves as an “introverted extrovert,” which is something most INFJs will relate to due to their tendency to act like social chameleons. They also have an interest in psychology and find it easy to read the room and understand how people work. Compassionate and sincere, they avoid conflict and confrontation as much as possible, seeking to befriend other players instead.

Player 016: Sam Lantz

Squid Game: The Challenge. Player #016 Sam. Credits: Netflix

Age: 37

Occupation: Artist

Personality type: ISFP

Instagram: @paulbunyan_ish

Sam (#016), a 37-year-old artist from Florida, is a rather stereotypical ISFP (Adventurer).

Not only does Sam professionally pursue the arts—one of the most popular career paths among ISFPs—but he also prefers to stay in the background rather than take the spotlight. Although he strives to keep a low profile to avoid being targeted, Sam also goes out of his way to form close connections with other players, showing his warm, approachable personality.

Final Thoughts

Without a doubt, the variety of different personality types in the Squid Game: The Challenge cast adds to the appeal of the show.

Not only that, but it also defies the popular belief that only innately competitive personalities, such as ESTPs, stand a chance to win such competitions. In fact, the willingness to collaborate has helped numerous contestants in this show get closer to the finish line.

Even though you can only be 100% sure about someone’s personality type if they take a personality test, one thing is for certain—being under pressure shows people’s true character. This is precisely why the masked guards emphasized the idea that “how you play is who you are” right from the get-go!