CBS Survivor Redemption Island: Winner Announced

CBS 'Survivor: Redemption Island' winner Rob Mariano and CBS 'Survivor: Redemption Island' contestants Natalie Tenerelli and Phillip Sheppard attend the 'Survivor: Redemption Island' Finale and Reunion Show Theater in New York City. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

CBS Survivor: Redemption Island had its winner on Sunday night, and it was Rob Mariano, also known as “Boston Rob.”

Mariano took home his award on Monday morning. He received his check for $1 million on“The Early Show” on CBS. In addition to the $1 million, he won an additional $100,000 because he was voted as the “fan favorite” by show watchers.

Mariano beat out Phillip Sheppard and Natalie Tenerelli in the battle for the title of “Survivor” winner as well as the $1 million prize. He had 40% of the fan votes for the “fan favorite” winner, vs 36% of Matt Elrod.

The 35-year-old Mariano was playing “Survivor” for a record fourth time, and he told the “Redemption Island” jury that it would be his last one. In addition, he met his current wife, Amber Brkich, when both of them were “Survivor” contestants in 2003 in “Survivor: All Stars.”

Ironically, Brkich beat Mariano in the final two round on “Survivor” that year. The couple also competed in another CBS reality show, “The Amazing Race.” The couple now have two daughters, and Mariano’s wife and children were in the audience when he picked up his award on “The Early Show.”

That was probably why Mariano gave his all into this season’s “Surviror: Redemption Island”. In an interview with the Associated Press, he said, “I played my heart out. I love this game, but you’ve got to get lucky along the way, too.”