Sesquipedalian, ratatouille and oligarchy are words that were misspelled at the end of a Scripps National Spelling Bee, making the difference between first and second place.
From Scripps, a $30,000 cash prize and an engraved trophy
From Merriam-Webster, a $2,500 U.S. savings bond and a complete reference library
From Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation, a $5,000 scholarship
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, $2,800 in reference works and the Britannica Test Prep Precocious Program valued at $799
From Scripps, engraved plaques
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, the 51-volume Britannica Discover America and the 2008 Encyclopaedia Britannica Student Edition DVD-ROM
From Scripps, a commemorative watch and a cash prize:
First Place: $30,000
Second Place: $12,500
Fourth Place: $3,000
Fifth Place: $2,500
Sixth Place: $2,000
Seventh Place: $1,500
Misspell in Round Seven to Eighth Place: $1,000
Misspell in Round Six: $500
Misspell in Round Four (first round of the Semifinals): $250
Participate only in the Preliminaries: $100
From Merriam-Webster, Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, on CD-ROM
From Mr. Jay Sugarman, The Samuel Louis Sugarman Award—a $100 U.S. savings bond presented by Mr. Sugarman in honor of his father


Sesquipedalian, ratatouille and oligarchy are words that were misspelled at the end of a Scripps National Spelling Bee, making the difference between first and second place.