Survivor winners

 

Where are they now? 'Survivor' winners

They outwitted, outlasted and outplayed and won the grand prize. With the upcoming season finale this Sunday of "Survivor: Redemption Island"  we see what past season winners have been up to while off the island with their winnings.

Richard Hatch

When: Season 1, Borneo

Then: Worked as a corporate trainer  in Newport, R.I.

Now: Has been battling the federal government concerning his winnings and was recently handed down a heavy ruling 

Tina Wesson

When: Season 2, Outback

Then: The Tennessee native, wife and mother of two was working  in the health care field.

Now: She was the oldest female to win the competition. She wrote a book  about life's challenges and is an accomplished racquetball player.

Ethan Zohn

When: Season 3, Africa

Then: After graduating from college  he became a professional soccer player in an African country and played for a Massachusetts team and a Hawaiian team.

Now: Has been battling a deadly disease  with recent good news, and started a nonprofit soccer organization.

Vecepia Towery

When: Season 4, Marquesas

Then: The Northwest native  was the first African-American contestant to win.

Now: Had a baby and was featured on a TLC documentary show.

Brian Heidik

When: Season 5, Thailand

Then: Worked as a soft-core porn star with his wife and played football in college

Now: Was arrested in 2006 after his wife called police because he allegedly shot a family pet with an arrow.

Jenna Morasca

When: Season 6, Amazon

Then: Was a college student  worked as a swimsuit model and in professional wrestling.

Now: Did a pictorial for this racy magazine, dated another "Survivor" winner  and they appeared in another reality series

Sandra Diaz-Twine

When: Season 7, Pearl Islands  Season 20, "Survivor: Heroes & Villains" in Samoa

Then: The wife and mother of two children worked as an office assistant in this Southern town.

Now: The two-time winner lives in Fayetteville, N.C., and works as a bank teller.

Amber Brkich

When: Season 8, "Survivor: All-Stars" in Pearl Islands, Panama

Then: Was a contestant on "Survivor: Outback"  posed for this male magazine and married a fellow contestant.

Now: She and her husband appeared on a racing reality show and have two children.

Chris Daugherty

When: Season 9, Vanuatu

Then: Worked as a heavy equipment operator in his home state.

Now: Married his girlfriend at this unlikely place and landed in hot water with his employer  in connection with a "Survivor" event.

Tom Westman

When: Season 10, Palau, Brazil

Then: The New York City native  and father worked in a dangerous but revered profession  for more than 20 years.

Now: Quit his job in 2005 to focus on being a motivational speaker and returned for "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains." Is he considered a hero or villain?

Danni Boatwright

When: Season 11, Guatemala

Then: Was a beauty queen  competed in a national pageant  and finished as first runner-up to a famous actress.

Now: Married to a football player  for the Kansas City Chiefs and works in sports broadcasting for this local channel.

Aras Baskauskas

When: Season 12, Panama


Then: Played NCAA basketball for a California school and lived in South Africa to study a disciplinary exercise.

Now: Founded and owns a winter hat company and is a yoga instructor in Santa Monica, Calif.

Yul Kwon

When: Season 13, Cook Islands

Then: He attended a prestigious California school  finished law school at another Ivy league school and was an aide for a prominent senator.

Now: In 2009 was appointed to a government post and married his girlfriend  the wedding aired on the TV Guide channel. 

Earl Cole

When: Season 14, Fiji

Then: The former California advertising executive was on a first date when asked by a casting director if he and his date would like to appear on a reality show. Two days later, he was offered the opportunity to be a contestant on "Survivor."

Now: Was married in 2007; the wedding was featured on the Style Network

Todd Herzog

When: Season 15, China

Then: The openly gay contestant had a high-flying job and grew up in this Utah-based religious group.

Now: Stated in 2009 that he is dating another contestant  and had to renounce his citizenship  to collect his winnings.

Parvati Shallow

When: Season 16; Micronesia

Then: Was a competitor in the female version of a male-dominated sport and competed in "Survivor: Cook Islands" before her winning season.

Now: Appeared in a surfing movie  with a fellow contestant  and competed on "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains."

Robert Crowley

When: Season 17, Gabon

Then: The father of two was a high school teacher  and lived in "the Pine Tree State."

Now: As the oldest "Survivor" winner, he retired from teaching and has written his autobiography.

James "J.T." Thomas Jr.

When: Season 18, Tocantins

Then: This Southerner  worked and operated a ranch  and graduated from Troy University.

Now: He returned to ranching, appeared on "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" and was among those on a sexy list.

Natalie White

When: Season 19, Samoa

Then: Originally from "the Natural State," White worked in sales.

Now: She resides in her home state and maintains that she and the second-place finalist are "friends."

Jud Birza

When: Season 22, Nicaragua

Then: The California native was using his good looks for work and did work for a preppy clothing company. He was the youngest winner of the show, at 21.

Now: He was arrested this year on a drug charge after illegally skateboarding in Santa Monica, Calif., and appeared in a straight-to-DVD homoerotic horror movie.
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