Boston Rob Finally Wins 'Survivor,' Goes Straight Back to Work

By Zach Dionne Posted May 16th 2011 12:25PM

If it wasn't cemented sometime in the decade since "Boston" Rob Mariano's 'Survivor' debut in season four, he's now a professional reality TV guy.

Moments after winning the $1 million title of 'Sole Survivor' during his fourth shot at playing the game, Boston Rob told PopEater at the Ed Sullivan Theater in NYC on Sunday night he wouldn't have much time for celebration.

"I'm going to work tomorrow. I'm doing a new show for the History Channel called 'Around the World in 80 Ways,'" Rob said. "Gotta make a dollar, brother."

Making a buck is indeed one of the Rob-father's specialties; he masterminded "Survivor: Redemption Island" to a flawless win and also took home the $100,000 Sprint Fan Favorite prize. Despite all that cash -- and the fact his wife, Amber, won $1 million on "Survivor: All Stars" in 2004 -- Rob won't kick back any time soon.

"After 10 years [in TV], I've learned the production side of things and I'm really interested in that and I wanna get involved in that," he told us.

As for betrayed alliance member Grant Mattos' sentiments that he hadn't forgiven Rob even months after the show filmed, Rob didn't seem overly fazed.

"Man, you're playing a game for a million dollars -– if you draw yourself a line in the sand, I think you're just handicapping yourself. And I'm not gonna do that. I might as well stay home if I'm gonna do that. I wish things had worked out differently with Grant, but every man's entitled to their opinion," Rob told us. "You learn to play the game and you learn to adapt and I think that's important no matter what you do in life, to always go to the next level."

Fourth-place player Ashley Underwood told PopEater she had a hard time being bitter about losing in the face of Rob's big win. "It's such a story, and he played the best game I think anyone has ever played. I'm proud of him," Ashley said. "He's a good guy. He deserved it."

With Boston Rob's 'Survivor' success story drawing to a close, we'd love to see a memoir from him. Something like 'How to Get Anyone to Trust You in Four Easy Steps,' 'On Living and Growing a Sweet Mustache,' 'I Survived 39 Days with Phillip Sheppard (And Don't Forget Coach),' or, simply, 'The Rob-Father,' perhaps?

See Boston Rob win 'Survivor: Redemption Island':

Tags: Boston Rob, Survivor

Comments

(122)

Monday 16 May

By Trina

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I am so thrilled for you and your family Rob. You are the main reason I watched, (besides Russell), but was rooting for you the whole way. You truly are a great guy! Best wishes!

By tman

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You have to be a lying cheating dirtbag to win the game.......

Saturday 28 May

By GoAwayRob

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Amber needs to watch her back. Rob was a little too *tender* with pro-football *dancer* Natalie, and she was a little too much of a hero-worshiper with him.

This season turned out to be simply ridiculous.

By amy dianne

Rob deserved it. If Jeff Probst ever wants to leave the show I think Rob would be the perfect host replacement.

By James

I'll never watch it again if that moron was to take Jeff's place! Colby Donaldson would be a better choice.

By cjdad92

I have watched Survivor every season. But, Rob replacing Jeff would end my viewing.

By SgtJoeFriday

But right now Colby is hosting a motorcycle show on Speed, so that would make him unavailable.

By Patti

Excellent idea!!

By halcottgirl368

Boston Rob was well deserving of this win. As for him taking over for Jeff if he decided to leave, a very good choice. As for Colby Donaldson, b-o-r-i-n-g!!!!!!!!!!! Let him stay with the motorcycles

By Ty Whittaker

I couldn't have said it better!

By spike

surely you jest

Tuesday 17 May

By Sandy

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I so agree!

By Jodi

Congrats to you Rob for winning Suvivor...I have been a fan of yours ever since your first Suvivor outting and thought you were a great game player out-maneauvering everyone else in the game. You are the main reason I watched and I too was rooting for you all the way to take home the money and win it all!!

I agree you truly are a great guy and don't ever lose that smile of yours; it's a beauty! Best wishes to you Amber and your kids; may your future be filled with everything you want cause you deserve it!!! Good Luck in your future!!! (:

By Sharon

I was cheering Rob throughout the show and am so glad that he got the well-deserved win. Can't wait for Rob's new show with Dennis Anderson!!

By ELLEN

ROB DESERVED TO WIN.HE IS A BRILLIANT PLAYER WHO CONTROLLED THE PLAYERS AND CONTROLLED THE GAME. HE WAS SMART TO BRING PHILIP TO THE END BECAUSE ALMOST EVRYONE EXCEPT RALPH, HATED HIM. HE IS NUTS, OBNOXIOUS AND FUNNY AS ALL HELL. HE MADE ME LAUGH WITH THAT FEATHER AND HIS PINK JOCKEY UNDERWEAR. ROB, WAY TO GO!!

By Jazziered

Rob, congratulations. I really am so glad you won, and kicked Russholes butt... I was rooting for you all the way. :) I am a fan.

By james

He didn't kick Russell's butt!!! Russell was betrayed by his own tribe and after that they started loosing the challenges. Did any of you Rob fans actually watch the show? What a jerk he was!

By raymond sprague

I have watched Survivor for the last several seasons and thought that Russell was the #1 Sheep Herder of sheep, but Rob puts him to shame.Those clowns ,in his group, were dumb as lambs headed to slaughter! Just wonder if any of that group or sect would have had enough sense to balk at drinking the kool-aid if Rob demanded them to guzzly it.

By NICOLE YEARSLEY

Sure would be nice if AOL wouldn't splash his name on the main page, not all of us got to watch it last night.

By Jen

FINALLY a happy ending for Survivor - the person who should have won...DID! And he won the fan fav, too! :) I love Rob, and it's not just because I am from Boston :), I love him because he played the best game ever. Go Rob and Amber! Can't wait to see Rob's new show on the History Channel!

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