Survivor (2024)

FAQs

Do you get paid to be on Survivor? ›

Considering the hardships that they need to undergo, some fans of the show may be wondering if there's a financial incentive to compete in the reality show. To put it simply, the contestants do get paid. The pay ranges from $2,500 to $100,000.

The casting process can take time, and there are many applicants vying for a limited number of spots. Stay positive and don't get discouraged if you don't hear back immediately. Keep applying for future seasons and look for other reality TV opportunities to enhance your chances.

Players must be in top physical condition in order to compete. "There isn't a formal checklist of physical requirements in order to be on Survivor, you just have to be able to handle living in a real jungle and be agile enough to handle the various elements you see in challenges," the producers say.

Every player receives a prize for participating on Survivor depending on how long they last in the game. In most seasons, the runner-up receives $100,000, and third place wins $85,000. All other players receive money on a sliding scale, though specific amounts have rarely been made public.

Contestants don't get razors, toothbrushes, or other conveniences, so if they have bright white teeth or aren't growing body hair, it may be because of tooth whitening or laser hair removal they had done before they left for the show.

"My day one outfit has shoes, socks, shorts, underwear set, jumper... so that's what I had," she says. "Then later on, there's like extra items that can be brought, which is two or three items."

The other is simply pooping on land—and each tribe of contestants on Survivor will designate an area of their beach to be used for this purpose, which is commonly referred to among producers and cast members as Coconut Grove.

Contestants must remain physically fit. Competing on Survivor is taxing, to say the least, which is why production has each contestant undergo a medical evaluation before the physical challenges. If a contestant does not appear to be in good enough physical health, they can be eliminated.

On Survivor, when eventual jury members are voted out, they are sent to a group living situation called Ponderosa. As they arrive one by one, they discuss the ins and outs of what has transpired, sharing information — and often bonding for or against certain players still in the game.

On "Survivor," there are no bathrooms, port-a-potty, or toilet paper.

Are swimsuits not allowed on Survivor? ›

"Survivor" stopped providing swimsuits to players in 2018, and the change comes with health risks. UTIs and other infections from wet, dirty clothes disproportionately affect people with vagin*s. Several contestants have told Insider about their experience and concerns over sanitary conditions.

Q. Name some physical or mental conditions that will disqualify a candidate. A. Diabetes needing frequent monitoring, poorly controlled asthma, epilepsy, heart conditions requiring supervision or those who may be a danger to themselves or others.

There are no proper flushing toilets during the Survivor experience, but rather a "drop hole" – a toilet seat and a 10-metre long drop. There, contestants can access pads and tampons, but things can get a bit sticky if your flow is heaviest when you're out at a challenge that's far from camp.

On Survivor, how much do the other players besides the winner get paid? First is obviously $1,000,000, second is $100,000, third place $85,000 and decreases the earlier you get voted out. All the players also get payed $10,000 for appearing at the reunion in addition.

First Place: The winner of Survivor receives a grand prize of $1,000,000 [1]. Second Place: The second-place contestant typically receives a consolation prize of $100,000 [2]. Third Place: The third-place contestant is awarded $85,000 [2].

But in an interview with TMZ, Jonny Fairplay spilled the beans on how much castaways allegedly make: the first person eliminated can make $12,500, according to the infamous villain, who noted jury members get $40,000. "I'm not sure I was allowed to say that," he noted after. "I might've broken an NDA."

By far, David Samson is the richest alum from the show. The exec previously launched a news distribution company and worked for Morgan Stanley, before becoming a Montreal Expos executive VP.