Gossips

Here's What Happened To Richard Hatch After He Won 'Survivor'

Richard Hatch was the first contestant ever to win Survivor. When Survivor first began to air it was a pop culture sensation and one of the first reality television shows of its kind. Richard was also the show’s first real villain, and some have gone as far as to call him one of the most notable reality TV villains of all time.




Richard won the competition after continually trying to manipulate the game and psych out his opponents for the coveted $1 million prize, but since the conclusion of the first Survivor series he has fallen on rather hard times.

Richard has appeared in a few other reality television shows, and he even had cameos in a few sitcoms and movies after winning, but he has also gone through a painful divorce and gotten into some highly publicized legal troubles which have set him back in significant ways. This is what the first winner of Survivor has been up to ever since his victory in 2000.

Updated September 2024: This article has been updated to reflect the most recent information regarding what happened to Richard Hatch after “Survivor”.


9 Richard Hatch Made A Cameo In A Ted Danson Sitcom

Richard Hatch made an appearance on Becker after winning Survivor

Richard Hatch
via Instar


Soon after winning the first ever Survivor prize, Richard was quick to cash in on the celebrity that the show brought him. Even though the celebrity came from him being seen as one of the villains of the show (after you flash your naked body to other contestants without their consent you tend to fall out of public favor), but he still found ways to cash in.

For one thing, he had a brief role in an episode of Ted Danson’s sitcom Becker, where Richard playfully referenced his famous nudity tactic from Survivor. Richard told Dr. Becker (Ted Danson) that he did not mind if he had to take his clothes off, a very on-the-nose reference, some might say.

8 Richard Hatch Was On ‘The Apprentice’

Richard Hatch ended up being fired from The Celebrity Apprentice after the fifth task

Richard Hatch on the red carpet
via Instar


Richard would also end up on Season 4 of The Celebrity Apprentice, the reality show once hosted by former president Donald Trump.

Richard was playing for the charity Grassroot Soccer, which helps teens and young people with health issues participate in athletics. Richard, however, was fired after the fifth task. Country music star John Rich was the winner that season.

7 Richard Hatch Was On ‘The Biggest Loser’

Richard Hatch lost 45 pounds on The Biggest Loser

Richard Hatch
via YouTube

Before The Celebrity Apprentice, Richard Hatch also appeared on The Biggest Loser and was not the only reality television veteran to join the cast that season. The Voice semi-finalist Erin Willet, who struggled with bulimia in the past, was also on the show that season.


Richard lost 45 pounds before being booted off the show after the fourth week.

6 Richard Hatch Was On Multiple Game Shows

Richard Hatch appeared on Dog-Eat-Dog and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Richard Hatch on the red carpet
via Instar

Not long after Survivor concluded, Richard also appeared on the now-canceled endurance game show Dog-Eat-Dog in 2002. Richard lost his physical challenge and was sent to the “dog pound”, meaning he ultimately lost the show but still got to act as a judge in some of the following competitions on the episode.

Richard was also on the Australian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in 2011,but lost after the fourth question. Richard was asked what is “11 times 12”. For what it is worth, the answer is 132, Richard.


5 Richard Hatch Went To Jail

Richard Hatch went to jail for not paying taxes on his Survivor tax money

Richard Hatch on Survivor
via YouTube

Richard was riding high for the first couple of years after he won Survivor, but in 2006, Richard ran into significant legal problems.

Investigators discovered that Riichard never paid the proper taxes for his $1 million prize money from Survivor and found that he had been fudging with his tax returns to avoid paying what he owed for years. Richard was convicted and sentenced to over 60 months in jail, and he later served time on house arrest to conclude his sentence on probation.

4 Richard Hatch’s Land Was Seized And Auctioned Off

Richard Hatch did not pay property taxes and lost his home in Nova Scotia, Canada

Richard Hatch on the red carpet
via Instar


In addition to his tax woes, investigators also released that Richard had not paid the required property taxes for land he owned in his home of Nova Scotia, Canada. Canadian revenue officials seized and auctioned off the property in 2013.

3 Richard Hatch Wasn’t Able To Join ‘Survivor: Heroes Vs Villains’

Richard Hatch was still on house arrest when Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains went into production

Richard Hatch on the red carpet
via Instar

Richard is undoubtedly one of the most iconic villains, not just on Survivor, but in reality television history.

In 2013, TV Guide listed him as one of the most notorious television villains of all time. However, despite being so iconically attached to the show, Richard was absent during the special season of Survivor: Heroes and Villains.


Producers admit that Richard would have been welcomed to return but because of his house arrest and legal troubles, he was unable to join. Richard did, however, come back for Survivor All Stars because his sentence had concluded.

2 Richard Hatch Got Divorced

Richard Hatch and his husband, Emiliano Cabral got divorced in 2017

Richard Hatch
via YouTube

Lastly, after a stint in jail, house arrest, and losing his property, Richard lost his partner as well.

Richard has been out as an openly gay man since 1995, and he married his partner Emiliano Cabral in 2005. However, amid Richard’s growing financial and legal woes, his marriage could not survive and Richard and his husband divorced in 2017.

1 Where Is Richard Hatch Today?

Richard Hatch will be back on reality TV on House of Villains

Richard Hatch on the red carpet
via Instar


Richard was cut from future seasons of Survivor after producers accused him of “questionable conduct” during the filming of All Stars.

Richard can be seen on October 9 when House of Villains, Season 2 premieres on E!