NEWSWatch 'Survivor: Redemption Island' Winner Rob Mariano Claim $1 Million Prize!
May 16 2011, Published 4:49 a.m. ET
At the end of a three-hour finale extravaganza for Survivor: Redemption Island, "Boston Rob" Mariano, a veteran of the CBS hit reality show, was finally crowned winner of the series' 22nd season!
This was Rob's fourth time on the show and he sailed to victory, beating out 17 other contestants this season, which was filmed in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
In the end, Rob swept the competition with a 8-0-1 vote against co-finalists Phillip Sheppard and Natalie Tenerelli.
Rob took home the top prize of $1 million and was also awarded a bonus prize of $100,000 from viewers in the Sprint-sponsored "fan favorite award."
"For my money, in 22 seasons, that's as close to a perfect game as anyone has played on Survivor," host Jeff Probst said during last night's live finale.
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Survivor has been more than just a competition to Rob. While competing on Survivor: All-Stars in 2003, he met his now-wife, Amber Brkich, who went on to win the competition over Rob (who was in the final two). The couple also competed on a season of CBS' The Amazing Race. They now have two children together.
"You don't know for sure until the votes are read, but I had a pretty good feeling," Rob told the Associated Press, via the Huffington Post. "I played my heart out. I love this game, but you've got to get lucky along the way, too. I know what it takes. It's really, really difficult. I'm really, really happy things happened the way they did this time."
Catch Rob's big win below, via TV Squad.
