In the new season, Australian players face off against top competitors from around the world — but one all-star was keeping major news under wraps.
Some of Australian Survivor’s fan-favourite players go head-to-head with top international contestants in Survivor: Australia vs The World, which premieres this weekend.
In a game where information is crucial, tension arises in the first episode when it’s revealed that local winner David Genat and international champion Pavarti Shallow share a connection unknown to most of the other players — they recently competed together on another reality show, Deal or No Deal Island.
The revelation that the two had previously worked together unsettled several contestants, but Genat was hiding an even bigger secret: he had won that season and claimed a staggering cash prize of USD $5.8 million (around AU$9 million).
David Genat won Australian Survivor: All Stars in 2020, taking home $500,000 after previously competing on Australian Survivor: Champions vs Contenders.
Unbeknownst to his fellow Australia vs The World contestants, Genat entered the game as a newly minted multi-millionaire — information that likely wouldn’t have helped him win favor with his tribemates.
Fellow Australian Survivor regular Shonee Bowtell, also competing this season, told news.com.au that the players were completely unaware there was a $9-million man among them.
“I’ve never even heard of the show Deal or No Deal Island,” she said.
“I knew from conversations that he had been on it, but I didn’t know that he had won. He kept it all under wraps, so we didn’t know. And to be honest I still don’t even understand the concept of the show! But seriously, he’s rolling in it… leave a couple of pennies for the rest of us.”
Bowtell’s appearance on this season cements her as the Australian player with the most days in the game, having already lasted 47 days in Champions vs Contenders, 42 in All Stars and 35 in Heroes vs Villians.
Now a mother to a young son and expecting another baby, Shonee Bowtell said the brief, intense format of this season — just 16 days in total — convinced her to step away from life as a new mum and compete on Survivor for the fourth time.
“It was such a hard decision because I was only four months post-partum,” she said of receiving the call to join the season.
Some of Australian Survivor’s fan favourites are set to face top international competitors in Survivor: Australia vs The World, premiering this weekend. Tension arises in episode one when it’s revealed that local winner David Genat and international champ Pavarti Shallow share a connection unknown to most players — they recently competed together on Deal or No Deal Island.
The revelation unsettled some contestants, but Genat was hiding an even bigger secret: he had won that season, earning a staggering USD $5.8 million (around AU$9 million).
Genat previously won Australian Survivor: All Stars in 2020, taking home $500,000 after competing on Champions vs Contenders. Entering this season as a multi-millionaire, he kept the news under wraps, which might not have helped his tribemates trust him.
Fellow returning player Shonee Bowtell said the contestants had no idea about Genat’s fortune. “I knew he’d been on the show, but I didn’t know he had won. He kept it all under wraps. Seriously, he’s rolling in it… leave a couple of pennies for the rest of us,” she joked.
Bowtell, now a mother to a young son with another baby on the way, said the short 16-day format convinced her to return for a fourth season. “It was such a hard decision because I was only four months post-partum,” she said.
She added that competing against international legends like Pavarti, Cirie, and Tony made the opportunity too good to pass up. Despite her love-hate relationship with the show, Bowtell enjoys the rare chance to live on a beach, face extreme conditions, and push herself to the limit. Having already played 47 days in Champions vs Contenders, 42 in All Stars, and 35 in Heroes vs Villains, this season cements her as the Australian player with the most days in the game.