2. Rob Mariano
Second season: All-Stars
Boston Rob first played in Marquesas, the fourth season of the show, and was the merge boot. Back then, the merge boots didn’t make the jury, so Rob wasn’t in on the action in the final six episodes after he was ousted.
Fortunately for Rob, he was brought back for All-Stars and that was life changing for him. For one, he met his future wife, and while he ended up losing to her in the Final Tribal Council by one vote, Rob showed what kind of player he could be. He ran things from Day 1 in All-Stars and had everyone eating out of the palm of his hand.
Even though Rob didn’t win All-Stars, he benefitted from his second appearance because without it, he’s just another guy from the early seasons that we occasionally wonder what he’s up to. He was a big name in Marquesas, but he was only one of two players in All-Stars who didn’t make the jury in their original season.
Rob should have been “forgotten about” and never heard from again, but he made the most of his second appearance and even found love. Rob has returned to play three more times, winning on his fourth try, and is the most well-known player in Survivor history. I’d say that his second chance benefitted him greatly.