A retrospective look at Survivor’s early car rewards
A long-running fan favorite question persists: did winning a car on Survivor help or hurt? In seasons 2 through 14, a dozen contestants earned shiny new wheels as part of a series of reward challenges. Yet in a quirk that became known as the Survivor car curse, none of the car winners went on to win the season’s million-dollar prize. This piece revisits what happened to the cars themselves and checks in with ten of the twelve recipients to see how the rewards impacted their lives, their games, and their beliefs about the so-called curse.
What happened to the cars and the players who won them
– Colby Donaldson (Survivor: The Australian Outback) — Pontiac Aztek
How he won: In a late-season reward, Colby and others faced a multi-stage challenge that culminated in a water-and-puzzle sequence before retrieving a key and a car. A malfunction briefly paused the race, but Colby recovered to win. The prize ceremony followed a dramatic reappearance where his car was presented the next day.
Car fate: Colby ultimately traded the Aztek for a GMC Yukon Denali after the dealership offered poor resale value for the Aztek. The Denali became his daily ride for several years. Pontiac later offered a high-visibility national endorsement tour, which Colby declined.
Curse belief: He’s skeptical, noting the car didn’t determine his outcome in the game. He doesn’t believe the car won or lost him the season.
What he’s up to now: Texas-based; remains a prominent Survivor alum and is slated to appear on Survivor 50 in 2026.
– Lex van den Berghe (Survivor: Africa) — Chevy Avalanche (North Face Edition)
How he won: A word-puzzle reward that led to the name of the car—Avalanche—and a road trip in the prize.
Car fate: Lex kept the Avalanche for personal use, then decided to sell it about a year later to fund a gift for his wife. He listed it publicly and sold it to a yacht builder/fan after staging a day with a Survivor legend. He chose to buy his wife a VW Beetle convertible instead.
Curse belief: He sees the car as a high-stakes prize that raises one’s profile in the game, but not a literal curse. He views it as a risk worth weighing in the broader strategy of the game.
What he’s up to now: A drummer who left tech work to pursue music full-time; active in bands and continues to tour.
– Sean Rector (Survivor: Marquesas) — Saturn Vue
How he won: A car reward that followed a mid-game series of events, culminating in a moment of triumph after a hard-fought challenge.
Car fate: Sean kept the first Saturn Vue but later sold it after issues and depreciation. He later traded up to a Mitsubishi Montero.
Curse belief: He’s uncertain about a true “curse,” noting that while the car’s presence changes dynamics, it doesn’t single-handedly decide outcomes.
What he’s up to now: President/CEO of the T.Y.M.E. Foundation (Teaching Young Men Excellence); continues community-focused work in California.
– Burton Roberts (Survivor: Pearl Islands) — GMC Envoy XUV
How he won: In a live prize reveal after an overnight camping trip, Burton was handed the keys to a GMC Envoy XUV.
Car fate: Burton used the Envoy on hunting trips and kept it at a family ranch in Texas for several years before trading it in for another SUV.
Curse belief: He doesn’t really buy into curses, though he notes winning a car can add pressure in a game where votes decide your fate.
What he’s up to now: Based in Austin, he’s involved in media ventures like The College Tour and continues producing projects in the TV space.
– Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich (Survivor: All-Stars) — Chevy Colorado and Malibu Max
How they won: Rob dominated the car challenge on All-Stars, and Amber joined him for part of the prize haul; they were also unexpectedly rewarded with a Malibu and a separate car-outlet. Their final takes included a drive-in movie sequence and a few high-adrenaline moments with the vehicles.
Car fate: Rob picked a black Colorado after a mix-up with the orange version, and Amber took a gold Malibu Max. They used the vehicles for several years before deciding to part ways with them as family needs shifted. The couple later sold or swapped cars in various ways, including a separate promotional arrangement with a Pontiac that didn’t end up in their possession.
Curse belief: Rob adamantly denies a curse, arguing that he and Amber effectively broke the curse by winning both the car and the show in Redemption Island’s aftermath; he suggests the “curse” narrative was more a storytelling device than a causal force.
What they’re up to now: Both remain visible on TV and in production, with Rob continuing to appear on multiple reality and entertainment programs and Amber pursuing family life and related media work.
– Eliza Orlins (Survivor: Vanuatu) — Pontiac G6
How she won: A car reward involved a high-stakes relay and a scramble, with a top-three finish securing a new Pontiac G6 for Eliza.
Car fate: Eliza sought a cash alternative to avoid a physical car, ultimately convincing a local dealership to cut her a check for the car’s value instead. She negotiated a substantial check that effectively kept the car off the road but still provided the reward’s monetary value.
Curse belief: She does not believe in a curse; she sees a potential correlation but not causation.
What she’s up to now: A public defender in Manhattan with ongoing advocacy, content creation, and speaking work, plus Survivor-related projects.
– Ian Rosenberger (Survivor: Palau) — Corvette convertible
How he won: A geography-and-rafting-themed reward that he handled with strong confidence; he used his strengths as a canoeing instructor to seize the victory.
Car fate: Ian kept the Corvette briefly but found it impractical for his frame and lifestyle. He traded it for a Ford F-150 that better fit him. He later attempted to preserve the Corvette by offering it back to the dealer for Survivor-related purposes, but its fate outside his control isn’t detailed here.
Curse belief: He wishes for the curse to be true but ultimately sees it as a personal decision—the car didn’t doom him, and he notes strategic missteps can have stronger consequences.
What he’s up to now: Brooklyn-based with a growing family; he’s involved in Day Owl, a retail brand that channels recycled materials into products, and he’s earned a boat captain’s license to explore future sailing ventures.
– Cindy Hall (Survivor: Guatemala) — Pontiac Torrent
How she won: A multi-stage car challenge culminating in a final puzzle and a run to grab a reward car.
Car fate: Cindy kept the Torrent and selected its specifics, then personalized it with a tan interior and black exterior. She kept it long enough to accumulate substantial miles and memories, including a well-documented on-road life. She still has the car but it’s largely retired from daily use after 217,000 miles.
Curse belief: She doesn’t believe in the car curse; she attributes her loss to game dynamics rather than the car itself.
What she’s up to now: Animal operations manager at the Naples Zoo; she runs hoof-care certification programs for zoo professionals and continues to work with animals.
– Terry Deitz (Survivor: Panama — Exile Island) — GMC Yukon
How he won: A post-island car challenge awarded him a Yukon; the win came after a long, suspenseful reward sequence.
Car fate: He eventually sold the Yukon after upgrading to another vehicle; the sale included a dramatic moment with a buyer who turned out to be a former military pilot dealing with a larger deal. The car’s value shifted as life’s needs changed.
Curse belief: He does not believe in a curse, attributing his post-show outcomes to personal gameplay choices rather than a supernatural effect.
What he’s up to now: A former airline pilot who’s retired from flying; now enjoying travel, boating, pickleball, and life with his wife.
– Dreamz Herd (Survivor: Fiji) — Ford Excursion (and later a Ford Escape)
How he won: The Fiji car reward was built around a two-team format that culminated in a final immunity/exit maneuver. The winner initially earned a Ford Excursion after a tie-breaking series of events, and Dreamz’s choice and a later deal had major implications.
Car fate: Before Dreamz could take possession, he needed to secure a license; after failing the test twice, he finally passed and selected a next-car option. He ultimately traded the Excursion for a Ford Escape after a few months and miles.
Curse belief: He believes the car prize contributed to the game’s dynamics and the juror response; he views the car as a factor in the larger social game rather than a single cause of outcomes.
What he’s up to now: A North Carolina-based business owner with a mobile detailing company, plus involvement in a Sunset Slush ice business.
Two winners not profiled here
– The feature notes that ten of the twelve car recipients were tracked down for this piece, with two others not included in this profile. One of those unprofiled winners was from Survivor: Thailand (Ted Rogers Jr.), whose car fate isn’t detailed in this feature.
Did the Survivor car curse hold up?
– The long-running debate remains unsettled. Several winners acknowledge that the timing and attention that come with a car prize can raise a player’s profile and invite more scrutiny or rivalry. Others insist the show’s dynamics—conflicts, alliances, immunity runs, and jury sentiment—play far larger roles in whether a player wins the season. A few winners even argue that the curse is more of a narrative device than a causal force. And a few, like Rob Mariano, assert the curse was broken in some seasons by players who leveraged the prize into lasting success.
Bottom-line takeaways for fans and players
– The car rewards are memorable moments that define early Survivor lore, blending real-life mobility with on-screen drama and enduring memories.
– The fate of the cars often reflected the owners’ practical needs and financial decisions more than any supernatural influence.
– The lessons for modern players: a prize can boost exposure and morale, but in the end, the game rewards strategic play, strong social bonds, and timing.
Editor’s notes and value add
– A fun, nostalgic look at the era when sponsors literally handed out cars as rewards, with real-life consequences that extended far beyond the finale.
– For readers: a reminder that Survivor’s early seasons blended competition with lifestyle storytelling—cars, travel, and how winners used these windfalls afterward.
– For potential future coverage: a quick archival guide could help readers verify how the prizes were featured on specific episodes and how the cars were used in subsequent appearances or promotions.
If you’re adapting this for a WordPress post, consider a sidebar featuring: quick bio box for each profiled contestant (season, car, notable post-show work), and a “Did the car curse hold up?” poll to engage readers and capture sentiment.
Final thought
The Survivor car era connected fans with unforgettable moments and opened up surprising personal narratives for winners. Whether you see the car as a curse or as a potent side prize that reflects a contestant’s broader life moves, the stories remain a vivid chapter in Survivor history—one that still sparks discussion among fans years later.