The former winner also weighs in on other franchise topcis.

Yam Yam Arocho thinks Survivor should permanently increase prize money to $2 million

The former winner also weighs in on other franchise topcis.

By Dalton Ross

Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. *Survivor* is kind of his thing.

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July 8, 2026 10:15 a.m. ET

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Yam Yam Arocho on ‘Survivor 44’. Credit:

- Should *Survivor* double its prize pot? One former winner says so.

- Yam Yam Arocho won a million dollars on *Survivor 44*, but you know what is better than a million dollars? TWO million dollars!

- Yam Yam also shares his quick hit thoughts on other *Survivor* hot-button topics.

One million dollars was a lot of money when *Survivor* first floated that prize money back in the summer of 2000. It’s *still* a lot of money, all things considered… just not quite what it used to be. And with shows like *Deal or No Deal Island*, *Squid Game: The Challenge*, and yes, *Beast Games*, all paying out a whole lot more, chatter has been raised in the incestuous swimming waters in which reality TV contestants bathe that *Survivor* should consider upping its prize pot.

The show actually did just that… kinda… for the recently completed *Survivor 50*. The regular $1 million prize was doubled to $2 million after Rick Devens flipped a MrBeast coin, but MrBeast paid the second million to eventual champ Aubry Bracco out of his own pocket. The only time the show itself doubled the prize money was for the all-champions edition of *Winners at War*, when Tony Vlachos took home $2 million, to add to the $1 million he already won on *Survivor: Cagayan*.

MrBeast, Rick Devens, and Jeff Probst on ‘Survivor 50’.

Robert Voets/CBS

But there is another former winner who would also like to see the prize money increased. When asked by ** at the *Survivor 50* finale to name the one change he would make to the show if he were in charge, *Survivor 44* champion Yam Yam Arocho did not hesitate. “Oh, make it $2 million already every single season,” argues Yam Yam.

Hmmm…. Would the gold standard of reality TV consider adjusting for inflation? Another CBS reality show did just that five years ago when *Big Brother* increased its first-place money from $500,000 to $750,000. (However, that is still considerably less than what *Survivor* gives away. And those *Big Brother* contestants not only subject themselves to round-the-clock live feeds, but are also in the house for up to three months — *waaaaaay* longer the shortened, new era version of *Survivor*, which clocks in at only 26 days.)

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All in all, *Survivor* still has a far superior payout, as long as you don’t mind potentially being rained on for days on end. And it’s a much better deal for players than shows like *The Traitors*, which offers a maximum of $250,000 (although many people on the celebrity editions also get large payout guarantees).

I would argue that the amount of money given away — whether $2 or $2 million — really does not matter much, if at all, to viewers. (Do you even remember how much money Rob Rausch took home last season on *The Traitors*?) Most viewers are not going to tune in or out based on the prize money.

Which is why as much as I love putting money directly in people’s pockets, I’d personally rather have that extra million dollars spent on what we see on the screen in terms of a massive challenge build, or crazy reward, or… I don’t know… a giant Medallion of Power that can awkwardly hover over the Tribal Council set. But it seems Yam Yam is already lobbying for more cash to coincide with his eventual island return.

Yam Yam Arocho on ‘Survivor 44’. CBS

Here’s the rest of our rapid-fire, lightening round, red carpet interview.

**: **As a viewer, what was the best *Survivor 50* moment?

**YAM YAM AROCHO:** The best *Survivor 50* moment this year was anything that Devens did. I’m sorry, he was hilarious. I didn’t love him in *Edge of Extinction*, but this season, I love him.

**What’s the next challenge ****Jeff Probst**** should do?**

The next challenge? Let’s get him in the water and drown himself in Last Gasp. I know how to win that one. What about you, Jeff?

**If and when Jeff ever does hang it up as host, who should be the next host of *Survivor?***

I enjoyed Christian a lot this year and I feel like his point of view, his geeky words, his phrases — it might be like a three-hour episode, but it would be fun to have him as a host.

Christian Hubicki of ‘Survivor 50’.

Robert Voets/CBS

**Who is the best *Survivor* winner ever, and you cannot say yourself?**

The best *Survivor* winner ever has to be the queen herself, the one who did it twice against crazy people in *Heroes vs. Villains*, Sandra Diaz-Twine. Puerto Rican, my girl. I love her.

**If you could bring anyone back to play *Survivor* again, who would it be?**

If I could bring anybody to come back and play *Survivor*, I would love to see what Richard Hatch would do in this new era of *Survivor.*

**What do you like more? The after-show shot in Fiji or the live reunion?**

This is my first reunion, so I don’t know if I’m gonna love this better, but I think this is gonna be a big party. I was so exhausted of the after-show. It was too much.

***Want to be kept up with all things Survivor? Dig deep and sign up for ’s ******free Survivor Weekly newsletter****** to have all the latest news, interviews, and commentary sent right to your inbox. ***

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Source: “AOL Survivor”