'Survivor Season 46: Do the contestants get paid? Here's everything we know about CBS' longest-running reality show

Singer Sia gifts prize money to top 3 'Survivor' contestants
PUBLISHED FEB 28, 2024
 'Survivor' contestants in a still from the CBS show (Instagram/@survivorcbs)
'Survivor' contestants in a still from the CBS show (Instagram/@survivorcbs)

MAMANUCA ISLAND, FIJI: 'Survivor' Season 46 is all set to return on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 8 pm ET on CBS.

The two premiere episodes are expected to be two hours long. Know how much the 'Survivor' winner and the contestants get paid in the show. 

It is widely known that the winner of 'Survivor' gets paid a hefty $1 million. But does anyone know how much the contestants get paid? Even if the amount is not as much as the winning money, it is not that small.

They do get paid for appearing on the show as they should (legally). As per a report of CinemaBlend, the castaways get paid too. For instance, the ones who could just reach the first boot get $3,500 each.

Before the pandemic, every contestant who attended the 'Survivor' finale was given $10,000. A hefty amount was given to the contestants to appear in the finale and to also keep secrets away from media houses.

The first person to be eliminated gets at least $13,500. The first runner-ups of the show also get a good amount of $100,000. The second runner-up gets around $85,000. 

According to ABC News, in season 1 Rudy Boesch received $85,000 as the third-place winner, while fourth-place participant Sue Hawk received $70,000. Comparatively, Jenna Lewis was removed mid-season and walked away with a reported $27,000.

'Survivor' Season 46 is all set to release on February 28, 2024 on CBS (Instagram/@survivorcbs)
'Survivor' Season 46 is all set to release on February 28, 2024, on CBS (Instagram/@survivorcbs)

What will the winner of 'Survivor' Season 46 receive?

The winner of 'Survivor' Season 46 will receive the prestigious title of the 'Sole Survivor' and a prize money of $1 million. Apart from that, the winning contestant also gets some brand deals post winning the show.

Often the winners also get goodies from various brands as a barter system for promoting their deals.

'Survivor' Season 45 winner, Dee Valladeres received the $1 million grand prize and the title of Sole Survivor. In a game that lasted 26 days, she was in the 'Survivor' finale with Austin Li Coon, who came in second place.

'Survivor' Season 45 winner Dee Valladares won $1 million prize money (Instagram/@roamwithdee)
'Survivor' Season 45 winner Dee Valladares won $1 million as prize money (Instagram/@roamwithdee)

Singer Sia gifts $215,000 to top 3 'Survivors' of the show 

Sia is the superfan of the CBS show 'Survivor'. For the past few seasons, she has gifted prize money to many contestants.

In season 39, she gifted a total of $215,000 amount among her favorite contestants. Elaine Stott, Janet Carbin, and Jamal Shipman won the Sia Award for the season.

Stott and Carbin won $100,000 each, with Shipman receiving the remaining $15,000. Carbin later posted a photo of herself with Stott, thanking the pop star for the present.

Carbin wrote, "Tonight, Elaine and I are going to swing from the chandeliers. Thank you so much Sia we love you".

Even for Season 44, she awarded $100,000 to second-place finisher Carolyn Wiger, $15,000 to Carson Garrett, and $15,000 to Lauren Harpe.

Following the Season 45 finals, Sia video-called Katurah and rewarded her with $100,000 as per Distractify. The singer also approached third-place finisher Jake O'Kane and Mr. Shot-in-the-Dark himself, Kaleb Gebrewold, and gave them $15,000 each.

(Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Superfan of the CBS show 'Survivor' singer Sia gives away lucrative prize money to the top 3 participants (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

What is the most expensive season of 'Survivor'?

'Survivor' Season 40 was the most expensive season of CBS' longest-running reality show to date.

The show had a whopping prize money of $2 million in place of the regular $1 million winning amount. Natalie Anderson won Season 40 of 'Survivor'.

Apart from that the shooting took place in a separate space called the controversial Edge of Extinction island. On this island, the eliminated contestants were supposed to stay.

The contestants there could fight for survival and fire tokens that would take them back to the main game. Thus in this season, the eliminated contestants were compensated for spending a longer time on the show as well.

Watch 'Survivor' Season 46 which is all set to air on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 8 pm ET on CBS.

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