Australian reality TV star David Genat wins over $9mil in US show
Australian model and former Survivor winner David Genat has become an instant multi-millionaire after winning US show Deal or No Deal Island. Read more.
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Even with paying millions in tax, David Genat walks away with around $6 million after winning the biggest cash prize in reality television history globally.
The Australian model and former Survivor winner is an instant multi-millionaire after being crowned winner of Deal Or No Deal Island in the United States.
“I’m rich. What would rich people do? We take vacations and stuff. We buy $19 strawberries,” the father-of-four told The Daily Telegraph from LA when asked what he would be doing with the prize.
“I am the Golden God of Deal Or No Deal Island. No one from Australia has done what I’ve done and no one from Australia has crossed over into American (reality) television, this is the first time it’s been done. Not only have I crossed over, I’ve won the biggest amount of money ever on American reality television, so I hope it opens a lot of doors for Australian talent wanting to do what I’ve done.”
Genat’s earnings are $US5.8 million, or around $9.2 million Australian dollars.
If he’d won the show in Australia, he would not have paid tax but in the US it will be around 30 per cent.
He previously won $500,000 on Australian Survivor: All Stars.
Genat, 45, who has also appeared on Celebrity Apprentice and Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders here, is semi-joking with his comments. He knows the unrelatable absurdity of his situation.
“Survivor gave me this start where I was like the Golden God, it is the most ridiculous thing you could say about yourself and if you know me personally, I’m a pretty humble, honest person,” he said.
“But it was just this outlet to create this character that insulated me from being as bad as possible on television. The difference with Deal Or No Deal is they’ve edited me as a hero. I thought I was a bit of a hero on Australian Survivor but I was a villain.
“I was a villain on Celebrity Apprentice. But I play a character and that’s what I’ve loved about it, I get to play this role and it has been really fun. I don’t know if I’m going to put the Golden God to sleep now but to finish on this note was just amazing.”
Deal Or No Deal Island is a prime time NBC production in the US, hosted by actor Joe Manganiello.
It is a cross between Survivor and Deal Or No Deal with Howie Mandel as executive producer.
The finale aired in the US on Wednesday after 12 contestants spent 25 days competing in challenges in Panama.
“The difference with Survivor is you are not eating, you’re really going through the trenches and it’s hell,” Genat said.
“This is like luxury living, they put us in these beautiful geo-domes with airconditioning. They were feeding us four meals a day, we were on the beach and same social and strategic gameplay, but they treated you like a king. And I was getting paid to appear and play this game. On top of that, I won a s**tload of money so it is just a dream come true.”
Genat splits his time between the US and Australia and has worked as a successful model for decades. He won reality show Search for a Supermodel in 2002.
More seriously, he intends to investing the cash but will also splash out on a new motorbike and there will be presents for his family.
“I’ve got kids who are about to get their driver’s license, so I probably have to get a fleet of vehicles,” he laughed.
“But I think for me now, it’s like ultimate freedom if I invest the money well … I’ve got a constant stream of income, I can put this thing in the bank and make like $300,000 a year. “I’m investing it so I have a stable income for the rest of my life.”
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Originally published as Australian reality TV star David Genat wins over $9mil in US show
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