Survivor's Natalie Edges Out Fan Favorite Russell for $1 Million Prize
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Natalie White is Survivor: Samoa's newest millionaire.
The 26-year-old former pharmaceutical sales rep from Arkansas took home the CBS competition show's top prize Sunday after outwitting, outplaying and outlasting 20 of her peers stranded on an island in the South Pacific.
White beat out Brett Clouser, Jaison Robinson, Mick Trimmings and ringleader Russell Hantz for the title -- which came as a shock to viewers -- and White herself.
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"It's about having no regrets," White said after host Jeff Probst revealed that she earned five of the first seven jury votes, making her sole survivor. "I had to quit my job to do it. So I gave up a wonderful job -- not just a wonderful job, but one that I loved so much... There was a lot at risk for me."
White's title didn't sit well with Hantz, the 36-year-old Texas oil worker who claims he made $2 million in wages last year, and insisted he played the better game.
After the votes were read and the cast gathered for a post-show reunion, Hantz made a proposition to White -- who believed all along he would take top honors.
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"Natalie, all I want is the title of Sole Survivor," Hantz pleaded in front of a live studio audience. "I will pay you $10,000 for the title. If Jeff says, 'Russell, you are the Sole Survivor,' and I get it in paper written down -- that I am the Sole Survivor. I want the title," Hantz continued.
"Are you asking Natalie to tell you you're a better player?" Probst asked.
"No, I'm asking Natalie to ask you to tell me that I'm the Sole Survivor," Hantz replied. "I feel like I played the best strategic game in history, and I'm not the only one who thinks that," he continued. "I can guarantee you millions of people probably think the same thing. Natalie, her best move was to jump on my back."
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But White saw through his rouse.
"I'm going to decline Russell's offer," the champ said later in the broadcast. "I'm not interested."
In the end, Hantz walked away with the $100,000 fan favorite prize, as determined by a text message vote from viewers.
Probst confirmed that the landmark 20th season of the veteran reality series, dubbed Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, will feature 20 of the show's greatest former castaways. The installment is set to premiere Feb. 11.
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105@ S.Bridges Get rid of jury votes and let the viewers decide??? Do you seriously think viewers have enough information to know who played the best game? All you see is what the producers want you to see - each 40 minute episode represents over 100 hours of footage. Get a clue! The final jury vote is part of the game, just like the challenges and finding hidden immunity idols. Russell wasn't able to convince the jury that he deserved to win so he clearly wasn't worthy. What's most amusing about all of this is how easily viewers are manipulated by the producers...Mark Burnett is laughing all the way to the bank...won't be long now before you can start voting for Russell to win the grade school popularity contest in Heroes vs. Villains (because he won't win this one either - Parvati is playing 10 times the game he ever played, and she's charming to boot. Be a good little monkey and get onto it - chop chop!
Congrats Nat. Russell, yes you played the game but honestly so did everyone else. Do I think that you deserved the title...NO. I would honestly hate to know you outside of the show. Congrats again Nat.
You lost, Russell. Get over it.
Wow Russell is pathetic. He couldn't beat Natalie who did nothing better than him. And do you know why? Because he forgot to filter the insults. Good job jury. I know I would never give someone a million dollar vote whos mean to me over someone friendly to me. America is brainwashed. Go Nat!
Russell you may have been a weasel, snake in the grass, liar, egotistical, used people then throw them away, but you WERE the best player ever. This IS a game. You did whatever was necessary to control & dominate everyone. If you would have told Natalie to jump, the dumb, stupid blond would have said How High? Get rid of the jurors. Let them only have a 1/3 part in the vote & the viewers 2/3 vote. That way just because they were outwitted and mad at someone who ruled EVERYTHING, they can't just give the money to someone who deserved NOTHING!!!
Russell You were Robbed!! Best player ever.
Russell is the SOLE SURVIVOR! the best news is HE IS ON next season heroes vs villains (I would give you the link for proof but it will be blocked). If people think that being "nice" is the key to playing a game then please do not come to my house for X Box or a game of Monopoly because your fragile ego will not be able to ENJOY the entertainment of Play! Russel played beautifully and I hope that the next season was taped before this season was shown, so his fellow players won't know how crafty he is.
Russel was NOT cheated. He was voted off fair and square by a bartender, a t-shirt designer, a hair stylist, a grandma, a physical trainer, and 2 college kids. Russell only received the votes from the rocket scientist and retired marine sergeant. Don't you just love that dynamic? says it all.
Russell is the best survivor ever. He was denied that which he rightfully has earned, and is due. Plain and Simple. www.russellgotrobbed DOT com
No one should be allowed to tamper with other peoples water or personal belongings. Russell should have been disqualified for doing this.
RUSSEL SHOULD HAVE WON. I beleive he was the best player ever to play the game. The people who believe Russel deserved to lose need to remember that it is a GAME. Russel DOMINATED.
SORE LOSERS VOTED.....RUSSELL SHOULD OF WON BY A LANDSLIDE. HE WAS THE BEST SURVIVOR PLAYER OF ALL TIME, AND JEALOUSY WAS INVOLVED IN THE JURY'S VOTES. WHAT A SHAME.
@Quoted by RDP: "This is a game of DIPLOMACY" You got to be joking me.
'Natalie wasn't good at challenges, strategizing, or even helping around camp. She wasn't good at anything. Like someone said before, all Natalie did and said was "yes Russell," "I'm with you Russell," Who are we voting for Russell?"' Sounds like perfect strategy to me. Let the "king" sit pretty. Let him run his mouth. This is a game of DIPLOMACY. That was Natalie's strong suit and Russell's blind spot, and it led to seven votes. Like it or not, Survivor is not about playing to the viewers but playing to the jury. He fell for her ruse hook, line, and sinker, and she was smart enough not to fall for his.
Russell should have won. I agree with Sarah, he played the way the game was supposed to be played. He was the best player in survivor history. I hope he is on next season for Villians vs. Heros. He deserves it! GO RUSS!
Russell played the game the way the game was invented to be played. Plain and Simple.
RUSSELL SHOULD HAVE WON! Who cares how he played? Its a game people! He dominated, and ya know what, yes, she played well too, but who was the mastermind? If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't have been there. What did she do that got herself there other than riding Russells tail? Ugh, This makes me upset! GO RUSSELL! hope to see you next season for the ultimate survior Villians Vs. Heros.
Have all the Russell supporters forgotten that he lied about losing his dog in Katrina? Or that he denigrated women at every opportunity? How about the fact that he bullied everybody in the game? The other contestants felt that he treated them badly, and when you treat somebody badly, they seldom forget it. That is why Russell lost. You can't just lie, bully, and walk all over people and expect them to like you in the end too. His strategy was great for getting to the end, but a very bad strategy if he wanted to win it all.
Natalie should definitely not have won; the only thing that caused her pathetic coat-tail riding carcass to win was her alliance with Russell, who was the superior player in the game and is considered by myself and clearly the rest of America as the sole survivor. Yes I am saying Russell won Survivor: Samoa, congratulations man.
I actually was praying that Russell wouldn't win. He did absolutely nothing in that camp except complain, use people and brag about himself to the point of making me nauseated. As he said himself, he's a snake in the grass. And I am shocked that anyone at all (with the exception of Shambo) would fall for his fake promises. I thought he'd be sent packing by week two at the latest. And it was heartbreaking at the end to see Mick and Natalie talk so totally convinced that Russell was a possible winner. That would have been a good time for them to point out that with all he did wrong and so little he did to help, he's lucky they didn't leave him strung up on one of those trees. Instead they sat there talking with Russell as he made comments about who "HE" was planning to sit next to, just assuming he was going to be there in the end. They missed so many chances to broadside him when he sat with all confidence holding the hidden idol and thinking one of his disposible women would be leaving. He ended last night by saying that he wanted to come on the program to show people just how easy it is to win it... boy, did that backfire. You did great Natalie and don't let anyone take that joy away from you. Mick didn't do too great but he did far better than Russell in my book. I just agree that he had trouble "leading" his team. God bless all the contestants! Great season.