Man who won biggest TV prize in US history still hasn't received it seven months later
A man who won the biggest prize in the history of US network television has revealed he's still waiting to receive his mammoth windfall.
David Genat is something of a reality TV show extraordinaire, having previously starred in Australian Survivor, Australian Survivor: All Stars and now, Deal or No Deal Island.
The 45-year-old, from Australia, has triumphed in two out of three of these programmes, which is pretty good going.
His winning stint on Australian Survivor: All Stars in 2020 saw him scoop $500,000 - but his prize from Deal or No Deal Island now makes this huge sum seem like pocket change.
Advert
Viewers watched Genat crowned as the winner of the second series of Peacock's reality show hosted by Joe Manganiello - which is a spin-off of the classic Deal or No Deal, but a bit more exotic.
Contestants have to compete in a string of gruelling physical challenges to earn briefcases which each have differing cash values.
The synopsis explains: "Each episode, one contestant faces the banker for a chance of elimination, with hopes of making it to the end for a final showdown with the banker to win a massive jackpot."
Take a look at the trailer for season two of Deal or No Deal Island here:
In tense scenes which aired on Tuesday (25 March) night - which were actually filmed last August - Genat got down to his last two briefcases.
One contained $75 and the other had the $12.2million grand prize inside, while 'banker' Chrissy Teigen threw a spanner in the works by offering him $5.8million.
Talk about a tough call, eh?
The dad, who shares four children with his wife Pearl Christensen, decided not to take a gamble on his briefcase and played it safe by accepting Teigen's impressive offer.
Thankfully, this move paid off - as Genat only had $75 inside his case and he would have missed out on becoming a multimillionaire.
And, of course, he would have lost out on the bragging rights that come with winning the biggest prize in the history of US reality TV.
The model, who has previously featured in Vogue and Vanity Fair, said he has been 'floating on a cloud since he won' during a chat with Reality Tea.
"It’s unbelievable," he said of his success on Deal or No Deal Island. "I can’t even put it into words. It’s just...it’s very validating. It feels like kind of the culmination of a lot of work I’ve been doing for the last 20 years."
He revealed his wife and four kids 'went ballistic' when he told them he had won a whopping $5.8million, adding: "Light was just pouring out of their cute little faces."
However, Genat hasn't been able to splash the cash on his loved ones just yet, as seven months after filming for Deal or No Deal Island wrapped, he still hasn't received his winnings.
He might have 'already started spending it' in his mind, but the dad told Entertainment Weekly: "It’s not in the account just yet.
"I remember just after everything happened, someone came and shoved a contract in my face and they were like, 'So you need to sign this to facilitate getting the money'."
He continued: "And I was like, 'Okay, let me just have a little read here'.
"At the top it was like, 'We such and such declare we will sign over the value of $5.8million to the assigned'. And I was signing my name on that line. It was heavy."
Genat doesn't have a clue when the money will be handed over to him either, but he has already decided what he is going to spend it on - his family.
"I probably shouldn't be saying this out loud because they're gonna hold me to it, but like, all my kids are coming up to driving age," the millionaire told NBC.
"So I'm probably gonna have to buy a fleet of new vehicles. I mean, hey, that's what I'm gonna do."
Don't worry though, as Genat will be treating himself to a new set of wheels too.
He added: "I'm gonna buy myself a new motorcycle 'cause I love motorcycles. That'll be my little fun spend."
LADbible has contacted Peacock and NBC for comment.
Olivia Burke