The $9m man: Aussie reality star wins one of biggest prizes in TV history

Former Australian Survivor winner David Genat, nicknamed “The Golden God”, has just bagged himself a lot more gold. The ex-model who lives in Perth has won the second season of US series Deal or No Deal Island, taking home $US5.8 million ($A9.2 million).

It’s one of the biggest cash prizes in TV history – second only to the winner of Amazon Prime’s Beast Games, who received a whopping $US10 million ($A15.9 million) last month.

David Genat and Joe Manganiello in the season finale of Deal or No Deal Island.Credit: Monty Brinton/NBC

“I want to be clear, if you take this offer, this would be the most money anyone’s ever made on network television,” said host Joe Manganiello, as Genat deliberated between his final two cases containing $US75 and $US12,232,001. “You would truly be The Golden God.”

“But if you turn this down, and you have $75 in your case, David, you would be the biggest loser in TV history.” The deal was offered by Chrissy Teigen, who was unveiled as the mysterious “banker” in the final episode – two decades after appearing as a briefcase model on the first season of the original show.

Genat, who was known for his daring gameplay on Australian Survivor in 2019 and 2020, ultimately chose the deal because he’s “seen hubris take out a lot of people”.

The show is a relatively new concept. It combines the original Deal or No Deal premise – in which contestants randomly pick briefcases containing different sums of cash – with physical challenges and social gameplay that mimics elements of Survivor. And yes, as the show’s name suggests, all the contestants are living on an island (though they don’t have to rough it on the beach).

That makes it an appealing prospect for people like Genat who’ve mastered other reality franchises. He was joined this season by Parvati Shallow, a US Survivor legend (who will star alongside Genat in Ten’s upcoming season of Survivor: Australia v The World), and Will Kirby, a former winner of Big Brother.

David Genat winner of Deal or No Deal Island.Credit: NBC

Fellow Survivor superstar Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano, who appeared on the first season of the show, praised Genat’s gameplay in an aftershow special. ” You were a freaking psycho, bro,” he said, adding that he was “highly impressed” with the way Genat hid his real identity. The Golden God took advantage of the fact US contestants hadn’t watched Australian TV and directed heat onto contestants like Shallow because she was a “Survivor champion and has had her time”.

At one point a fellow contestant even joked, “I’m going to be really mad if you won Survivor Australia”. “Can you imagine?” Genat said, laughing. “I don’t even think that’s a show.”

Former Australian Survivor contestants including actor Pia Miranda and former AFLW player Abbey Holmes have congratulated Genat on his win on social media. And his former castmate Luke Toki was a bit more colourful adding, “Dammm son… Sending networks broke.”

Genat previously won $500,000 on Australian Survivor: All Stars.

Deal or No Deal Island is streaming on 10Play.

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