It’s the end of an era — Sia is done giving cash prizes to her favorite Survivor contestants and winners. For the past 14 seasons, the singer has personally awarded a select few contestants an extra cash prize from her own personal funds. To date, Sia has given away more than $1 million. But after the conclusion of season 46 came and went earlier this week with seemingly no Sia prize handed out, Survivor host Jeff Probst confirmed that the singer has decided to stop awarding her own “Sia Prize.”
“It’s the end of one of the most unique eras in the history of Survivor,” Probst wrote in an Instagram post a couple of days ago. “After eight years, 14 season, 19 players and over $1,000,000 awarded, Survivor is officially bringing the Sia Prize to a triumphant end.”
Sia started gifting contestants who didn’t win the show’s $1 million prize their own money after season 33, Survivor: Kaoh Rong, when she went on stage during the finale to award $50,000 to fan favorite Tai Trang. Traditionally, she has told each “Sia Award” recipient what she has found special about them.
“I still vividly remember the day Sia stood up in the audience during the live finale of Survivor: Kaôh Rōng and made her way onstage,” Probst wrote. “She was so taken by Tai’s commitment to protecting a chicken that she awarded him $50,000 of her own money. Tai was shocked, the audience was shocked, I was shocked! What was happening? Sia was on stage in her wig handing out money to a Survivor player!?”
“That was the beginning of what became affectionately known as ‘The Sia Prize,’” he continued. “And over the years Sia has brought so much joy to so many players and it was always straight from her heart. So it is with tremendous gratitude and admiration to Sia that we bring to a close one of the most unique relationships a TV show could ever have with a pop star of Sia’s global wattage.”
“I’m really honored for Survivor to have this one of a kind association with Sia,” Probst concluded. “She’s in the Survivor Hall Of Fame of Superfans!”
Earlier this year, Sia rewarded Season 45 cast members Carolyn Wiger (the season’s second runner-up) with $100,000, Carson Garrett (who placed just after Wiger) with $15,000, and Lauren Harpe (who followed Garrett) with $15,000. A video posted to PopCrave’s Twitter at the time showed Harpe’s reaction to Sia’s unexpected generosity.
“I wanted to tell you that you’re awesome, and I really felt the struggle for you and your kids and stuff,” Sia said. “I wanted to give you not the biggest prize, but I wanted to give you 15 grand just to say, ‘I love you’ and, ‘Keep going.’”
Sia has not yet commented on her decision to stop the “Sia Prize.” During an interview on Howard Stern earlier this year, Probst continued to praise the singer and her fandom of the show. “Her thought is this: I make a lot of money. I’ve been really lucky, and I want to share it with the people who entertain me and bring me joy. And one of those shows is Survivor.”
