It's been about a year since Rachel LaMont won Survivor 47. While fans didn't get to learn Rachel won the season until mid-December 2024, Rachel actually was crowned the winner of the season and claimed the $1 million prize around this time last year in Fiji.
On the new episode of the On Fire with Jeff Probst podcast, Rachel, who cohosts the podcast along with Jeff Probst and Jay Wolff, opened up about some of the challenges she faced after winning the season.
“It's so tough," Rachel said. "Even you asking me this question makes me actually uncomfortable. To this day, I struggle with it. Yeah, I'll say I won Survivor 47, but you'll never hear me bring up the money. You know everyone playing needs that money for something that is important and meaningful to them.
"And, Survivor is a zero-sum game. In order for me to get it for myself, everyone else has to miss out. And while I don't think anyone actually blames me for winning, it does make you question sometimes like, 'Did I deserve this more than someone who maybe needed it more than I do?' It's tough, even after the game's over."
We don't often hear that level of honesty from a lot of these reality competition stars or winners. Like, we all saw Rachel win, the excitement that she expressed, and the excitement and praise her cast had for her and her gameplay. But, usually, that's the end of it. We don't often follow the players back home and get an update about how they are feeling. So, first, that's so awesome that Rachel is willing to be so open with fans about this. Props to her for doing that!
For context, the conversation was about the Survivor 48 players opening up about some of the reasons they are playing the game and how $1 million would change their life for themselves or their family.
It's an interesting dilemma, right? Survivor is a sport, basically. Yes, every player gets some amount of money for competing, and it's more for those who finish runner-up, but it's not close to $1 million. That pay disparity is a big deal! It's heartbreaking for those who miss out, but that's almost what makes the game, you know? The players bring it every episode. It's an incredibly taxing game.
It seems like Rachel is feeling some level of Imposter Syndrome, right? I have to imagine that happens for athletes, reality stars, and those in the entertainment industry, but I know it affects people from all walks of life. We don't always feel like we deserve what we have. I can say that while acknowledging that sometimes we probably feel like we deserve more, too. In my experience, that's just life.
I don't think anyone holds it against Rachel for winning the $1 million prize and Survivor 47. Of all the players on that season, Rachel was an incredibly deserving winner with how she executed down the stretch of the game, winning multiple immunity challenges, perfectly playing a hidden immunity idol, and more. Even with such a dominant performance, Rachel got a lot of help along the way. Sol Yi gave her a lifeline in the game when she was definitely getting voted out. Her allies, who knew she had an idol, could have flipped on her. Rachel couldn't have done it alone. No one can in Survivor, and that's one of the beautiful parts of this game.