Highlights
- CBS's reality series Survivor has created iconic players and winners across 46 seasons, worth millions.
- Some contestants like Rob Mariano and Elisabeth Hasselbeck have seen success beyond the show, amassing huge net worths.
- From legal troubles to professional sports, Survivor contestants like Richard Hatch and Jeff Kent have had varied experiences.
When it comes to competitive reality series, CBS definitely knows what they are doing! The network has created some of the most successful shows from Big Brother, The Amazing Race, all the way to Survivor! And these shows can all be streamed on Paramount+.
Survivor, which first began back in 2000, has been on-air now for a whopping 46 seasons! Fans have gotten to witness some of the most iconic players in the game, and of course, have followed along with the show host, Jeff Probst.
Despite some fans questioning the legitimacy of the show, it has become one of the most-watched series, and rightfully so! Across 46 seasons, there have been countless winners, all of whom have taken home the $1 million prize. However, it appears as if there are some contestants who have come to be worth much, much more!
Related
Survivor Contestants Residual Pay Is The Depressing Truth Of Reality TV
Survivor contestants are given extra money during their time on the show, but residuals are a touchy subject for reality stars.
Updated June 2024: There have been some changes for the "Survivor" contestants who have the highest net worth from the show. The biggest change is Heidi and Cole Hamels got divorced in 2024. With a settlement not being disclosed and the divorce happening recently, Heidi's net worth is still being reported with Cole's.
There is talk of Rob Mariano coming back for "Survivor" Season 50. Rob is already trying to get an alliance together so that he can hit the ground running when he arrives on the island.
Jimmy Johnson was initiated into the Ring of Honor with the Dallas Cowboys and now sits on the advisory board for the team, which is sure to give his net worth a boost next year.
10 Richard Hatch
Net Worth: $200,000
Richard Hatch is known amongst the Survivor fandom for being the very first winner! Richard appeared on the first season of Survivor: Borneo in 2000, where he took home the grand prize.
Despite his success on the show, Richard found himself in a lot of legal trouble, which cost him quite a pretty penny. After serving time behind bars for tax evasion, Hatch returned for Survivor: All-Stars in 2003 and later appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2011, all of which have contributed to his $200,000 net worth.
9 Candace Smith
Net Worth: $1.5 Million
Candace Smith first appeared on Survivor back in 2009 when she competed in Tocantins, Brazil. Prior to her time on the show, Candace worked as a model and actress, and even went on to win Miss Ohio USA in 2003, which took her to compete in the Miss USA pageant back in 2013.
The star has also worked as one of Barker's Beauty's on The Price Is Right before making her way over to The Millionaire Matchmaker. Following her many stints on reality television, Candace went on to become a commercial real estate lawyer, which has definitely helped when it comes to her $1.5 million net worth, according to CelebrityNetWorth.
8 Rob Mariano
Net Worth: $2 Million
Rob Mariano has appeared on Survivor not once, not twice, but four times! In 2011, Mariano joined the cast of Survivor: Redemption Island, where he finally took home the winning prize.
Rob also appeared on the All-Stars season, where he came in second place, securing even more winnings. As if that wasn't enough, Rob later appeared alongside his wife, Amber Brkich on The Amazing Race season 7, where they came in second!
Related
CBS Hasn't Told Fans That Survivor Has Been Using Body Doubles For Years To Replace Their Actual Contestants
Behind the scenes, CBS and Survivor have many secrets, and that includes the use of body doubles.
Since his time with the network, Rob has managed to amass a net worth of $2 million, all while raising his four daughters!
Rob is already thinking long-term with Survivor and coming back for Season 50. New strategies are already being formulated, such as coming into the show with a preformed alliance. How this will work for Rob and his yet-to-be-formed alliance remains to be seen.
7 Russell Hantz
Net Worth: $2 Million
When you think of Survivor, Russel Hantz always comes to mind! The star is easily one of the greatest villains to ever play the game. Not only did he appear on the Heroes vs. Villains season, but Russel competed two other times, in 2009 and again in 2011 on Redemption Island.
Considering Russel was runner-up not once, but twice, he has won quite the sizable cash prize. However, he also received $100,000 when he won Sprint Player of the Season both times, which has contributed to his reported $2 million net worth.
6 Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Net Worth: $16 Million
Elisabeth Hasselbeck is easily one of the biggest names to have appeared on Survivor. Prior to her being a co-host on The View, which has allowed the star to amass a reported net worth of $16 million, she first appeared on the hit CBS series in 2002.
Elisabeth, who went by her maiden name, Filarski at the time, was a contestant on Survivor: The Australian Outback, where she placed fourth. Her time on the show allowed her to not only make a name for herself but one that would appear on our TV screens for years to come.
Related
'The View': Every Host Ranked By Net Worth
Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd, Meghan McCain, and many others have all co-hosted The View.
5 Jeff Kent
Net Worth: $40 Million
Jeff Kent is widely known amongst Survivor fans, however, he was famous far before joining the cast of Survivor: Philippines back in 2012. The star, who currently resides in Austin, Texas along with his wife and four children, came in 10th place during his season. Kent has had much more success in his professional career, though.
In 1989, Jeff was signed to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he played first for the minors and then the major league. He was also on several other teams before ending his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Interestingly enough, no one recognized Kent when he was on the reality show.
Related
Spoiler Free: The Best Seasons Of Survivor For New Fans
Survivor's guide of where to start for new viewers who want to see how great the show can be.
Kent has since gone on to amass a net worth of $40 million, making him one of the richest contestants thus far.
4 Jimmy Johnson
Net Worth: $45 Million
Jimmy Johnson first appeared on Survivor: Nicaragua back in 2010 after being a self-proclaimed fan of the show for so long. While he was meant to return again on the 17th season in Gabon, Johnson didn't pass the physical exam.
Despite missing out on his second go at the show, Jimmy has had quite an eventful life. The former Survivor contestant is very well known in the football world for being a longtime analyst and coach, a job he began back in 1965!
Even though Jimmy had a falling out with the Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, after leaving the team, things are different these days. Jimmy was inducted into the Ring of Honor and now sits on the advisory board for the team.
Since then, Jimmy has gone on to amass a net worth of $45 million!
3 Brendan Synnott
Net Worth: $80 Million
Brendan Synnott is easily one of the wealthiest contestants to have appeared on the hit show. Synnott was a cast member on the 18th season of Survivor: Tocantins at just 30 years old. While he played a solid game, the star was eventually voted out seventh on day 24, making him the very first juror of his season.
While he may not have won, he certainly won big time in his professional career. Brendan went on to sell his granola company, Bear Naked, to Kellogg's for a whopping $80 million, making his net worth within that ballpark.
Today, Brendan is CEO of PACT, an apparel company that uses organic cotton and fair-trade cotton for high-quality clothing that pays those in the apparel industry fairly for their work.
2 Heidi Hamels
Net Worth: $105 Million
Heidi Hamels, who divorced her husband, Cole Hamels in 2024, appeared on the sixth season of the hit series, Survivor: The Amazon, back in 2002. While she is certainly recognized from the show, Hamels' husband has had a very successful career as a pro athlete. The star was a baseball pitcher who was drafted by the Phillies in 2002.
Today, Heidi is a fitness pro who helps women get into the best shape possible via her program that she promotes on Instagram.
There is no telling what Heidi got from the divorce from Cole. Cole is worth a reported $105 million. As such, until details become available as to what Heidi received from the settlement, her net worth is being based off of her now-ex-husband.
1 David Samson
Net Worth: $200 Million
David Samson is without a doubt the wealthiest contestant to have ever appeared on Survivor. The star appeared on Survivor: Cagayan back in 2014. However, his time on the show didn't last very long. Samson was the first to be eliminated, which by no means phased him as he went back home to his $200 million net worth!
Samson is worth such a staggering figure as he is none other than the former president of the Miami Marlins. He began his time as the Executive VP of the Montreal Expos before moving on to the Marlins, with whom he remained up until 2017.
Today, Samson hosts Nothing Personal with David Samson and works as an MLB analyst for CBS Sports.
