One Survivor fan’s day was made when their path crossed with that of “Boston” Rob Mariano, considered in many quarters to be the most iconic contestant in all of Reality TV. After sharing news of the encounter on Reddit, aficionados of the popular show responded very positively.
Mariano has competed five times on Survivor, and emerged victorious at the fourth time of asking: in Season 22, which was titled Redemption Island. Some—including his former ally in the game Phillip Sheppard—argue that he was not as deserving of victory as other winners, who faced “tougher roads to victory.”
Boston Rob also found love on Survivor, as he married Season 8 winner Amber Brkich after he finished first runner-up in that All Star year. Their showmance is among many still going strong years later.
For all these personal and professional accomplishments, Mariano appears to have remained grounded, as his interaction with a fan at an airport reminded his followers.
“Boston” Rob Mariano Was Praised On Reddit For His Humility
The thing that appeared to impress fans of Survivor most regarding the interaction between Rob Mariano and a fan at an airport was the humility he showed. According to many comments in response to the post on Reddit, this was par for the course for the star from Massachusetts.
The encounter was reported on the social media platform by a user referring to themselves as “Ambitious-Cookie7893,” complete with photographic proof. They also confirmed within the thread of responses that the rendezvous happened at Charlotte Airport in North Carolina.
Mariano was seen looking relaxed in the picture, with his signature hat backwards and a wide grin. The user who shared also revealed that the Survivor alum was also accompanied by his four daughters with Amber Brkich.
“For anyone wondering he was with his daughters and man he is such a nice guy!! Super humble but such a great person. He didn’t even try to snuff my torch!” they wrote.
The sentiment among others who apparently met him as well was that this was Rob’s default approach to fan requests for photos.
@TDStarchild said: “I enjoy how happy Rob often looks in fan pics. It comes down to individual interactions, but this cannot be said of many celebrities.”
“Boston” Rob Mariano Was Also Recently Spotted At A Dodgers Game
Survivor Redditors felt well represented by Rob Mariano in his interaction with a fan at Charlotte Airport, but it is not the only time that he has been spotted fitting in seamlessly in public of late.
Boston Rob has a net worth of $2 million.
On August 21, 2024, a post on X went viral after someone alleged that Mariano was seated right in front of them during a baseball game at the Dodger Stadium. The user who shared the post was none other than Brando Meyer, himself a Survivor alumni, from Season 45.
Just like the fan on Reddit, Brando followed up by revealing Rob’s charming nature in person: “i’m like 99% sure boston rob is sitting in front of me at the dodger game rn… update it was and he’s chill.”
Mariano himself confirmed his presence at the game the following day, where he also revealed that he managed to catch a foul ball by Mookie Metts off Collin Snider of the opposing Seattle Mariners.
Brando’s Season 45 journey ended after 11 days, leaving him a dwarf in comparison to Boston Rob’s impressive CV on Survivor. The younger player was appropriately teased by fans on X, with one writing in jest: “Nah bro, YOU are sitting behind Boston Rob!”
“Boston” Rob Mariano Is Not As Popular With The Newer-Age Survivor Fans
Rob Mariano’s place in Survivor folklore does not appear to be in any immediate jeopardy, but he might be getting worried about his reputation among the newer-age fans of the reality competition series.
CBS debuted the show in 2000, and has constantly renewed it twice every year, save for the COVID-enforced break between 2020 and 2021. In that time, host Jeff Probst has seen more than 40 seasons and 700 players come and go.
Mariano quickly became a favorite of the earlier era of Survivor, but audiences did appear to grow more weary of him in his latter seasons.
Boston Rob is set to turn 49 in December.
There was an appreciation for the idea to bring him back as a mentor in Season 39 (Island of the Idols), but his reviews as a returning contestant from the consequent installment (Winners at War) don’t make for great reading.
A curious newbie watching that particular season embodied this sentiment in a post on Reddit, as they wondered why such a seemingly “unnoteworthy” contestant received so much love from the older fans.
“Dude was one of the OG game changers of Survivor,” a presumably much more experienced fan responded. “Apart of playing one of the most dominant winning games on Redemption Island season, his run on Survivor All Stars is what made him a legit Survivor legend.”
Did Boston Rob Retire From Survivor?
Talk of Survivor legends potentially making a comeback to the game has been rife ever since Jeff Probst announced that Season 50 would feature returnees.
Since 20 former winners went head to head in Winners at War (including Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich), the only returnee of the new era has been Bruce Perrault, who was medevaced in the very first episode of Season 44, and offered a second chance in the 45th.
With the new age sentiment towards Mariano, he does not appear to be a strong favorite among fans to make a return to the show. The question of a potential comeback was in fact put to him in March 2024, and his answer suggested that he might not be too keen on the idea himself.
“I mean in what capacity [would I return]?” Rob asked Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly in response. “As a contestant playing with everyone else, it just feels like we’ve been there and we’ve done that.”
Mariano nevertheless left the door ajar to the possibility, but insisted that serious changes would need to occur to the format of the game for him to even consider it.
“I’ve always said it would take some kind of unique format change to make me go back and compete over there,” he said. “Otherwise we’re faced with the same situation where they gang up on me and want to get me out.”
