It was survival of the fittest in last night’s episode of Survivor: Winners War – the 40th season of the veteran reality series Survivor – which saw one lucky castaway come home with double the usual prize money.
The show included all 20 winners from the pat 39 seasons of Survivor, once again returning to Edge of Extinction island, where only one winner was crowned and given the eye-watering $2 million dollar check.
In the end, it was Tony Vlachos who became the CBS competition’s two-time Sole Survivor, having previously been won Season 28, Survivor: Cagayan, back in 2013, in a very emotional finale.
Cheers! Tony Vlachos has the CBS competition’s two-time Sole Survivor, having previously been won Season 28, Survivor: Cagayan, back in 2013, in a very emotional finale.
The police officer won in a 12 to 4 to 0 vote, with Natalie Anderson picking up those four votes and Michele Fitzgerald getting goose egg in the epic three-hour episode.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly about the win, Vlachos admitted that he “cried like a baby” and also spoke about how it felt getting the prize money over video due to the current coronavirus pandemic.
“Watching that back right now, I was in full tears, man. I usually try to act tough in front of my kids and my wife. I tried to hold back tears, even though they want to come out,” he told EW, But, this time, I when talking about securing a place in the final at the expense of his partner Sarah Lacina.
Big win: The police office took home DOUBLE the prize money of $2million
Family: His wife is seen running over to him on the show
Happy days: Tony has said the whole experience has been a ‘blessing’
He added: “I couldn’t even hold it. I couldn’t hold back. Man, I was balling like a baby, man. That was so impactful. I can’t believe that. That hurt me so bad. I mean, it needed to be done in order for me to win, I guess, so I’m happy with that, of course. But that hurts so bad, man.”
Vlachos was up against past including winners, Tyson Apostol, Danni Boatwright, Sophie Georgina Clarke, Jeremy Collins, Sandra Diaz-Twine, Ben Driebergen, Wendell Holland, Adam Klein, Yul Kwon, Amber Mariano, “Boston” Rob Mariano, Parvati Shallow, Kim Spradlin-Wolfe, Denise Stapley, Nick Wilson and Ethan Zohn.
When asked about how it felt being named the $2 million winner read via webcam, Vlachos said: “Oh, man, I don’t care how he gives it to me, as long as I get it! $2 million, that is huge, man! Oh my God.”
‘The Penultimate Step of the War’ : Denise Stapley, Nick Wilson, Sarah Lacina, Tony Vlachos, Michele Fitzgerald and Ben Driebergen at Tribal Council
In for a chance: Tony has said that he felt confident he could take home the ultimate prize
Winner: The police officer won in a 12 to 4 to 0 vote, with Natalie Anderson picking up those four votes and Michele Fitzgerald getting goose egg in the epic three-hour episode.
He also described having his family around him this time as a “blessing” saying: “This whole season’s been a blessing all around. Just from the family visit, all my kids. It’s just, it’s just amazing. And I got to share it with my family on my sofa in my house. It’s just so epic.”
But having played the reality show three times and winning twice, the champion has said he is still ready for more – even if the show runs on for another 10 years.
Asked if he’d do it again in the future, he said: “Oh, absolutely. The Seniors edition. Survivor Seniors Edition!”
Tough crowd: The show included all 20 winners from the pat 39 seasons of Survivor, once again returning to Edge of Extinction island
Emotional: The tough guy has admitted he ‘cried like a baby’ when he won