Arts & Entertainment

I Won A Million Dollars On Survivor China

Todd Herzog , USA
Date Posted: 12/17/07
Reader Rating: rating

I won a million dollars last night and I feel great. It’s just so surreal, but it’s not real money yet. I can’t spend it until I get to the bank. Right before they announced who the winner was, I was holding Courtney’s hand, I was just shaking, my heart was pounding and then they said, “The winner of Survivor China is Todd,” and I just freaked out. Video courtesy CBS.

How was Courtney feeling when I won? I think Courtney is happy for me. She was telling me today that she was just amazed that she made it to the final three because she expected to be one of the first three to be voted off.

I was the smallest guy on the show and Courtney was the smallest girl, but we didn’t let that get to our heads. All odds were stacked against us, but because we stuck together, we showed that you don’t have to be big to rule this game.

I’ll be honest, if Courtney had won instead of me, I would be very bummed, but I would also be so happy for Courtney because I loved the game she played.

Strategy In The Making

I’ve been watching Survivor since I was 15 years old, and I’m 22 now, so I had lots of time to figure out my strategy. Basically what I learned is that throughout the game, you have to be yourself, but you also have to be willing to do whatever it takes to win the game. You have to weigh every single option, every single time, and you have to wonder what people are thinking every step of the way.

I came in with such a passion and I didn’t stop thinking for 39 days. It made me super paranoid, but the outcome was me winning.

I definitely schemed, but I think I played a great game. I did exactly what I said I was going to do. I always believed going in that if I wanted something badly enough, I could make it happen, and I definitely think I made way more friends than enemies along the way.


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Re: I Won A Million Dollars On Survivor China

By kpenn88, December 18, 2007 at 16:12

Todd,

I am very proud of you. You've probably heard that a lot, but for me watching you play this game was very special. Rarely can I tell who deserves to win until it gets to like the final 3, but once you started making so many people feel a need to trust you, I knew you would be the person to look out for. That always happens. The strategists are usually the ones that make it to the top, because the jury sees how well you planned everything out during the questions before final tribal council, and you were obviously very good at twisting everything around. To win any other way requires a nearly perfect sweep of individual immunity, which I believe only happened once in the history of the show. The other time it ended up not working out.

So I'm hopeful you will feel great for having been one of those people whose methods of thinking have inspired me.

- Kevin
Kansas City, MO

Re: I Won A Million Dollars On Survivor China

By Robyn Stubbs, December 18, 2007 at 16:16

Todd said that he watched every Survivor and learned from the previous winners - who knows, maybe you'll be next, Kevin!

Re: I Won A Million Dollars On Survivor China

By Michelle Kenneth, December 17, 2007 at 21:04

Aras, a past Survivor, invested his money into his own company, Tundra Gear. Maybe you should consider starting a business or buying some real estate.

Re: I Won A Million Dollars On Survivor China

By Heather Wallace, December 17, 2007 at 18:48

Congratulations Todd - To tell you the truth, I thought you'd get kicked off for playing the game a little too well, but I guess you were right about that "Where there's a will, there's a way" business. I wish I had a million dollars...Thanks for letting me live vicariously through you for a few minutes today.

Thanks to CBS for arranging the interview :)
Heather Wallace
senior editor
Orato.com

Re: I Won A Million Dollars On Survivor China

By senhoritacin, December 17, 2007 at 17:23

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

Re: I Won A Million Dollars On Survivor China

By luyen, December 17, 2007 at 17:04

A part of me is happy for Todd, he obviously did something right to win. Another part of me is sad for him, and how we've glorified a show that promotes lying, back-stabbing, double-talk and all that stuff...

I did find it a bit comical when Denise called Todd and Amanda on their scheming, even though she wanted to win just as badly...and gave Amanda her sad life story to stay on...

All the contestants looked like really nice people, but under the circumstances to win a million bucks, it was interesting to see who would do what to win.

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