Pop superstar and long-time Survivor charity giver Sia has picked the latest castaways to receive her generous, big-money donations.
The “Chandelier” hitmaker is a huge Survivor fan and since 2016 has made it a tradition to give away money to her favorite contestants from the most recent season. This started back in Survivor: Kaoh Rong, when she gifted fan-fave Tai Trang $50,000 and has continued ever since, with the likes of Donathan Hurley, Davie Rickenbacker, Rick Devens, Janet Carbin, and Drea Wheeler all receiving the Sia bonus.
As reported by Entertainment Weekly‘s Dalton Ross, the Australian music artist has surprised three Survivor 43 contestants with a combined $200,000. The three lucky castaways receiving the Sia money are second runner-up Owen Knight, fourth-place finisher Jesse Lopez, and ninth-place finisher Ryan Medrano.
Sia surprised the three Survivor players over a video call, where she praised their games and revealed she was rewarding them with a monetary prize. She gave Jesse $100,000, complimenting his “epic, sneaky, wonderful game” and admitting she was “devastated” by his loss in the fire-making challenge to eventual winner Mike Gabler.
Owen was next up, receiving $50,000, which probably helped ease those feelings about being a 0-vote finalist. Sia told the college admissions director that she “loved his personality” and said she could relate to his underdog story.
Last up was Ryan, who also received $50,000. “You’re a totally beautiful, beautiful person,” Sia told Ryan, who, on the show, shared his story of being born with mild cerebral palsy and how he fought to overcome these early hardships.
As for why Sia continues to do this, Survivor host Jeff Probst told EW, “She gets a lot of joy from watching Survivor players take on such a personal and often vulnerable life adventure. And she has been incredibly fortunate in her own career and wants to share some of that fortune with others.”
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Thanks to Sia for being such a kind and generous person. I agree with your choices almost all of the time. You are a good and beautiful person.
I love Sia. Wish we would have Live Reunion shows again