‘Survivor’ winner donates entire million dollar prize to veterans
The winner of season 43 of the reality television competition show Survivor has chosen to donate his entire $1 million prize to veterans, multiple sources have reported.
Mike Gabler, 53, made history when he revealed he would be donating all his prize money to a good cause, something he had told viewers of the hit CBS reality series that he intended to do from the start. Well, it looks like he’s followed through with his unbelievably selfless promise.
The heart valve specialist (I mean, can this guy get any better?) had made the announcement in the Survivor after-show, moments after his win, telling host Jeff Probst (via PEOPLE): “There are people who need that money more.” How wholesome.
“And I’m going to donate the entire prize – the entire million dollar prize, in my father’s name, Robert Gabler, who was a Green Beret – to veterans in need who are recovering from psychiatric problems, PTSD, and curb the suicide epidemic. We’re going to save lives and do something good. Season 43, all of us did this. A million dollars is going to them. We made history guys,” he added.
Gabler had taken part in the series – which was filmed in Fiji this season – with numerous other American contestants. Probst was touched by Gabler’s incredibly kind gesture and even asked the new winner about what his financial situation was like growing up.
“No, I’ve worked very hard, I’ve been fortunate. But, you know, I realized being through this experience, I am rich at home. I have an amazing life at home. I have an amazing family. I have amazing friends. I need to be a better husband, I need to be a better father, I need to be a better brother, I need to be a better son. I’m going to do all those things just like all of us are going to do that when we go home,” he replied, via Fox News.
He then stated that it felt wrong “to take this million dollars in this time period where there’s so much going on in the news,” adding that he hoped viewers would see him donating his prize money and say: “Well, that’s why we’re watching Survivor, because amazing things happen on this show.”
The Texas native paid tribute to his father, who was a veteran, and later said that he felt so “grateful” to be able to give back to other ex-service personnel like his father.
Gabler has become the second-oldest winner of the TV competition at the age of 53, coming behind Bob Crowley who won season 17 aged 57.
