Jeff Probst Reveals Survivor Players Will No Longer Win Money from the Sia Prize: ‘A Triumphant End!’

The pop singer has awarded more than $1 million to her favorite 'Survivor' players since 2016

“Wackadoodles Win” – Several castaways have some explaining to do after a fake idol was played at tribal council. A castaway attempts to fall on the sword for their tribe’s loss in the immunity challenge. Then, three castaways take a journey to compete for an advantage in the game, on SURVIVOR, Wednesday, March 13 (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Jeff Probst serves as host and executive producer. Pictured (L-R): Jeff Probst. Photo: Robert Voets/CBS ©2023 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 22: Sia arrives at the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 22, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/WireImage)
Jeff Probst; Sia. Photo:

cbs; Allen Berezovsky/WireImage

It’s the end of an era for Survivor players and fans!

Just two days after Survivor’s 46th season ended, host Jeff Probst announced that the Sia Prize has come to an end, meaning pop star Sia will no longer be awarding money to her favorite players every season.

On May 24, the Emmy winner revealed the news on his Instagram Story: “After eight years, 14 seasons, 19 players and over $1,000,000 awarded, Survivor is officially bringing the Sia Prize to a triumphant end!”  

Sia, 48, quickly reposted Probst’s lengthy statement on her Instagram Story, adding animated hearts to express her gratitude toward his kind words.

“Over the many years, Sia has brought so much joy to so many players and it was always straight from her heart,” Probst, 62, continued.

Jeff Probst x Sia Survivor Money
Sia reposted Jeff Probst’s announcement on her Instagram Story.

instagram (2)

“So it is with tremendous gratitude and admiration to Sia that we bring to a close one of the most unique relationships a TV show could ever have with a pop star of Sia’s global wattage,” Probst added.

Sia started her tradition in 2016 after at the 32nd season’s live finale for Survivor: Kaôh Rōng — Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty.

“I still vividly remember the day Sia stood up in the audience during the live finale ... and made her way onstage,” Probst recalled. “She was so taken by Tai [Trang]’s commitment to protecting a chicken from being eaten that she awarded him $50,000 of her own money.” 

LOS ANGELES - MAY 18: Tai Trang is presented with a gift from recording artist Sia during the live reunion show broadcast from Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 18th on the CBS Television Network.
Tai, Sia and Jeff Probst in 2016.

Neil Jacobs/CBS via Getty

“Tai was shocked,” Probst admitted. “The audience was shocked, I was shocked! What was happening? Sia was onstage in her wig handing out money to a Survivor player!?”

Since then, the singer has gifted 18 more players with various amounts of money, including seven players who each received $100,000: Rick Devens (season 38), Elaine Stott (39), Janet Carbin (39), Drea Wheeler (42), Jesse Lopez (43), Carolyn Wiger (44) and Katurah Topps (45).

MANA ISLAND - MAY 19: "Absolute Banger Season" The remaining five castaways must climb their way to victory in the immunity challenge to earn a feast at the sanctuary and a spot in the final four. Also, one castaway will be crowned Sole Survivor on the two-hour season finale, followed by the After Show hosted by Jeff Probst, on the CBS Original series SURVIVOR, Wednesday, May 24, (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Pictured (L-R): Carolyn Wiger, Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho, Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt, Carson Garrett, and Lauren Harpe.
Carolyn (left), Carson (second right) and Lauren (right) won the Sia Prize.

CBS via Getty

The other 11 contestants who were awarded money were Donathan Hurley (36), Davie Rickenbacker (37), Aurora McCreary (38), Joe Anglim (38), Jamal Shipman (39), Owen Knight (43), Ryan Medrano (43), Lauren Harpe (44), Carson Garrett (44), Jake O’ Kane (45) and Kaleb Gebrewold (45).  

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“I’m really honored for Survivor to have this one of a kind association with Sia,” Probst concluded.  “She’s in the Survivor Hall Of Fame of Superfans!”

The Sia Prize is not officially affiliated with the long-running CBS program. The winner of Survivor wins a $1 million prize.

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