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 all these shows can now be streamed on Paramount+.
Survivor, which first began back in 2000, has been on-air now for a whopping 40 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 40 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!
Updated on July 14th, 2021 by Michael Chaar: While Survivor winners take home the $1 million grand prize, there are many former contestants who have gone back home to their millions or made millions since appearing on the series. Elisabeth Hasselbeck managed to amass a net worth of $16 million post island life following her successful career on The View. The Survivor villain himself, who happens to be quite the family man, Russel Hantz, also makes the list at $2 million, however, it is David Samson who takes the win. The MLB icon is worth a whopping $200 million and has recently taken a stance on the topic of a "two city solution" when it comes to Florida's baseball teams.
10 Richard Hatch - $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 Rob Mariano - $1.3 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! Since his time with the network, Rob has managed to amass a net worth of $1.3 million, all while raising his four daughters!
8 Candace Smith - $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.
7 Russel Hantz - $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 $2 million net worth.
6 Elisabeth Hasselbeck - $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 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.
5 Jimmy Johnson - $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! Since then, Jimmy has gone on to amass a net worth of $45 million!
4 Jeff Kent - $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, however, Kent has had much more success in his professional career.
In 1989, Jeff was signed to the Toronto Blue Jays, which he played first for the minors and then the major league. Kent has since gone on to amass a net worth of $40 million, making him one of the richest contestants thus far.
3 Cole Hamels' Wife, Heidi - $60 Million
Cole Hamels' wife 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 is a baseball pitcher who was drafted by the Phillies in 2002.
Cole spent most of his career with the Phillies before being traded to the Texas Rangers, and again to the Chicago Cubs, a team he's been with since 2018. Luckily for Cole, his success has led him to quite an impressive net worth of $60 million.
2 Brendan Synnott - $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.
1 David Samson - $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. Recently David Samson weighed in on whether or not there could be a "two city solution" for baseball teams, saying it wouldn't stand a chance!