2025 has been a year for the ages for David Genat. The Australian Survivor legend made his American reality TV debut this spring, appearing on Season 2 of Deal or No Deal Island. And the self-proclaimed "Golden God" took home quite the amount of gold, making history by taking home almost $6 million. And, after another short, but memorable turn on Survivor AU alongside other legends, it's been announced that he will be hosting the series starting next season, succeeding Jonathan LaPaglia.
The Survivor community was rocked when Channel 10, which airs the series in Australia, said that LaPaglia would not be returning to host following the currently-airing all-star season Australia v. The World. Many fans were outraged, considering the actor's connection to Australian Survivor since its reboot in 2016, as well as implications that the veteran emcee was fired through his social media postings. Simultaneously, speculation almost immediately began over who would be filling out his broad-chested wardrobe as new host of the show.
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Genat's name has been floated about speculatively soon after LaPaglia's departure was announced. And, following the winner's boot in Episode 2 of Australia v. The World on Monday, Aug. 18, the network made the formal announcement on social media that, despite his on-island declaration that he would be retiring from Survivor, that would only be as a castaway.
"This isn’t the last you’ll see of David Genat!" Channel 10 posted. "He may have had his torch snuffed on Survivor: Australia v The World, but now, David is stepping up to crown the next Sole Survivor.
"Filming is underway in the wilds of Samoa for the 12th season of Australian Survivor, where 10 is thrilled to confirm the ‘Golden God’ will be at the helm, commentating every challenge and tribal council as castaways battle it out for the title of Sole Survivor in Australian Survivor: Redemption, coming in 2026."
This isn’t the last you’ll see of David Genat! He may have had his torch snuffed on Survivor: Australia v The World, but now, David is stepping up to crown the next Sole Survivor.Filming is underway in the wilds of Samoa for the 12th season of Australian Survivor, where 10 is… pic.twitter.com/pgEZvtq8HM
— Channel 10 (@Channel10AU) August 18, 2025Related: Beloved ‘Survivor’ Host Cut From the Show After 10 Years in ‘Epic Blindside’
Genat first appeared on screens six years ago, in the 2019 version of Australian Survivor. The model quickly drew eyes with his turn on the catwalk, gobbling up screentime like popcorn. And he cemented himself as one to watch when he swapped a real hidden immunity idol with a fake one with another player. Unfortunately, Genat's big moves caught up to him, as he was blindsided in tenth place with an idol in his pocket.
Luckily, it wouldn't be long before we saw him on our screens once again. Less than six months later, Genat returned for the first-ever season of Australian Survivor: All Stars. Playing alongside other standout players from the past four seasons, he put on an absolute master class, dominating the game in every single aspect. This time, Genat survived all 50 days of the season, taking home a near-unanimous win and going from a member of the "Champions" tribe in Season 4 to an outright champion in Season 5.
Genat quickly parlayed his win into becoming a career reality TV personality. He appeared as a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice Australia, and served as a host for both the travel series Getaway and new unscripted series Rush. It would be five years until he decided to become a contestant again, this time on the NBC series Deal or No Deal Island. Yet again, Genat was a main character of the season, utilizing his previous experience to dominate the game and the airtime. Crucially, he formed an immediate bond with fellow Survivor champ Parvati Shallow, working together through her departure in the endgame.
Related: 'Deal or No Deal Island' Winner David Genat Reveals If He Would Ever Play American 'Survivor' (Exclusive)
Genat would go on to win the season and face the Banker in a final game of Deal or No Deal. And it was during that fateful night that television history was made. In a wild sequence of events, he consistently turned down offers of millions of dollars, feeling in his gut that there was more money on the table. And Genat proved why his intuition made him a two-time winner, as he took home $5.8 million from the show, the greatest prize in game show history.
Mere months after taking home millions of dollars, Genat went island-hopping for his third season of Australian Survivor. Placed upon a tribe full of fellow Aussie legends of the series, while the only winner on his tribe, he found himself well insulated with people he had played with in the past. Unfortunately, when his tribe faced their first vote, the appeal of the "Golden God" was too great, even for his friend Sarah Tilleke. After getting taken out in 13th place, he announced he would be retiring from Survivor AU, prompting a standing ovation from his opposition.
Genat will be debuting his transition from castaway to host in 2026, when the currently-filming season of Australian Survivor will air. With the vague theme of "Redemption," he is not the only familiar face being rumored, as allegedly, the new iteration may feature a number of returning players as contestants.
Related: Meet the Full Cast of 'Survivor 50'
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