Who is the Wealthiest ‘Survivor’ Castaway of All Time?

Over the last 25 years, “Survivor” has given away its $1 million grand prize worth to 48 series winners to date from Richard Hatch to Kyle Fraser. The franchise, all the while helmed by host and executive producer Jeff Probst, has similarly awarded fan favorite players with cash prizes following the introduction of campaigns like the Sia Award and Sprint Player of the Year. 

Plenty of players – even those who didn’t claim the title of “Sole Survivor” – have since celebrated lucrative careers in reality TV and beyond. But which former “Survivor” star has emerged as the most successful in terms of net worth since their time on the show? 

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‘Survivor’ Alumni Became Millionaires (Without Winning the Show)

While some fans might think that former players like Tony Vlachos, who took home the largest ever grand prize in “Survivor” history when he won $2 million as the “Sole Survivor” of 2020’s “Winners at War,” would at least rank on the list of richest players, a new report from Just Jared shows that the two-time champion doesn’t even crack the Top 10. 

Ranking former castaways by their approximated net worths, Just Jared’s list includes the likes of Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano and Russell Hantz, both of whom boast a net worth of $2 million in 2025. 

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While Mariano earned $1 million when he was declared the winner of “Survivor: Redemption Island,” the five-time player has since celebrated reality TV appearances on series like “The Amazing Race,” “The Traitors” and “Deal or No Deal Island,” boosting his portfolio. The fan favorite castaways similarly accrues wealth from his eponymous production company Murlonio Productions and from sales on his best-selling book “The Boston Rob Rulebook.”

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Hantz, who has appeared on “Survivor” four times over the course of his career, matches Mariano’s net worth despite never winning the show. Known as one the best villains in series history, Hantz raked in the majority of his wealth as the part-owner of his family-run oil business, Hantz Tankering Service. 

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“Survivor: Australian Outback” alum Elisabeth Hasselbeck similarly cracks the Top 10 at $16 million, courtesy of her later appearances on daytime television programs like “The View” and “Fox & Friends.” The former castaways net worth is similarly boosted by her marriage to now-retired NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck. 

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Speaking of sports stars, “Survivor: Philippines” alum Jeff Kent, who similarly celebrated a lucrative career in the MLB on teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, the New York Mets and, most recently, the Los Angeles Dodgers before his retirement in 2008, goes down as one of “Survivor’s” wealthiest players of all time with an estimated net worth of $40 million. 

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Additional names on the list include “Survivor: Nicaragua” alum and former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson at $45 million, and Brendan Synnott, who co-founded his health food brand Bear Naked before appearing on the cast of “Survivor: Tocantins.” In 2007, Synnott sold Bear Naked to Kellogg for an estimated $60 million, bringing his total net worth to nearly $80 million in 2025. 

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Just Jared named “Survivor: The Amazon” alum Heidi Hamels (formerly Strobel) as the second wealthiest former castaways, estimating her current net worth at approximately $105 million courtesy of her marriage to MLB star Cole Hamels. Heidi similarly accrues revenue from her country music publishing house Twelve6 Entertainment and her health and wellness app Heide Hamels VIP. 

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The Wealthiest ‘Survivor’ Player Ever Is…

Topping the list as the “Survivor” alum with the largest net worth is “Survivor: Cagayan” castaway David Samson.

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Despite being the first player eliminated in the 2014 season, Samson has amassed as much as $200 million through his ventures as a business executive. In addition to launching his own news distribution company, Samson has since become the executive VP of the Montreal Expos, a professional baseball team based in Canada. In 2002, Samson continued his baseball empire, purchasing the Miami Marlins with his step-father. He acted as the MLB team’s president until 2017. 

By comparison, longtime “Survivor” host Jeff Probst’s net worth currently sits at an estimated $50 million. 

Notably missing from Just Jared’s list is “Survivor: David vs. Goliath” runner-up Mike White. With an estimated net worth of $20 million, White is a renowned Emmy-winning writer, actor, and film producer, best known for his work on HBO’s hit drama series “The White Lotus.” 

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White is similarly set to make his return to “Survivor” next year on the cast of Season 50. Dubbed “In the Hands of the Fans,” the season will feature the series largest cast to date, composed entirely of returning players, including the likes of Cirie Fields, Ozzy Lusth and Benjamin “Coach” Wade.