'Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing': How much money are the contestants making?
ORIBI GORGE, SOUTH AFRICA: In a whole new sort of challenge, 12 of the toughest and most experienced all-stars od 'Naked and Afraid' take on South Africa's unforgiving Oribi Gorge. For the first time, survivalists will go head-to-head in a grueling, multiphase competition, with their basic talents put to the test for the chance to earn money.
'Naked and Afraid' is a Discovery Channel reality series that puts participants' survival abilities to the test by dropping them off in a distant place to fend for themselves. They must survive without clothes and can only take one useful personal item. Aside from that, they must survive in the wilderness for a set number of days by finding food, shelter, and water. Although they have the option to withdraw from the competition at any time, the risk that survivalists take with their lives makes us wonder if it's all worth it. Do you want to know if the contestants get paid? For the newest spin-off of the franchise, 'Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing' things are about to change.
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Are 'Naked and Afraid' contestants paid?
For a long time, it has been debated whether the competitors of 'Naked and Afraid' get rewarded. According to the show's official description, the participants must survive on their own for 21 days, and "the only prize is their pride and sense of accomplishment." Kristi Russell, the casting director, was asked if there is a prize for individuals who finish the challenge in a 2015 interview with Channel Guide. She declared unequivocally, "There is no prize."
Naturally, this has taken many admirers by surprise. Aside from the financial implications of missing work, the contestants also jeopardize their physical and mental health. Several interviews with former cast members, however, revealed that they are on the show for the experience and to prove to themselves that they can survive in the wild. As a result, money is not a driving element.
Former contender Jeff Zausch also stated that although some people are born to race cars, others are born to be CEOs of corporations. Similarly, he feels that he is among those who were created to go beyond what is humanly feasible. Many contestants have returned to the show multiple times, demonstrating that completing the challenge is more rewarding than anything else. However, it is not true that the contestants are not compensated in any way.
Kristi Russell said that, while there is no monetary award, the participants are reimbursed for their time. She claims they are paid a "weekly stipend to compensate for their lost wages." The 'Naked and Afraid' regulations announced in 2014 that the participants will be given $5000 in cash. They would also be provided with round-trip airline tickets to the venue of the survival challenge, as well as lodging for two nights.
Will 'Naked And Afraid: Last One Standing' contestants get paid?
Several 'Naked and Afraid' giants are going head-to-head for the opportunity of a $100,000 reward — and the coveted title of 'Last One Standing'. 'Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing,' the Discovery Channel's latest survivalist spinoff, has a group of 12 series alums taking on a previously unseen challenge on the long-running competition show.
"Twelve of Naked and Afraid's toughest and most experienced all-stars take on South Africa's punishing Oribi Gorge in a completely new type of challenge," the show synopsis reads. It adds, "For the first time ever, survivalists will compete head-to-head through a grueling, multiphase challenge and have their primitive skills tested for the chance to win $100,000."
The first round of the challenge, according to the release, consists of a 21-day competition in which the survivalists are partnered with each other, but the teams confront a surprise twist: if one of them taps out, their partner is also instantly eliminated. 'Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing' also represents a franchise first in that the teams must "earn the tools needed to survive," rather than bringing them. In the second part of the challenge, the remaining survivalists battle alongside and against their teammates in a team task. According to the release, the final three days include an "everyone-out-for-themselves fight to the finish," with only one lucky victor taking home the cash prize and earning the "first ever perfect 10 Primitive Survival Rating."
'Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing' premieres May 7 at 8 pm ET on Discovery Channel.