Rupert Boneham (born January 27, 1964) was a contestant on Survivor: Pearl Islands and Survivor: All-Stars, and is arguably the most popular Survivor to ever play the game. He won one million dollars on Survivor: America's Tribal Council which was a special episode of Survivor: All-Stars. The prize was awarded after a popular vote in which Boneham received 85% of the 38 million votes cast.

During the game of Survivor: Pearl Islands, Rupert quickly became one of the most popular Survivor contestants. Physically fit, personable, and genuine, Rupert was well-liked by many of his competitors and managed to win many team and individual challenges. His plan was to win the game by being the most capable at winning challenges, providing for his camp, and being sincere. He preferred to rely on 'fair play', although he was responsible for stealing the opposing tribe's personal supplies in the first episode. Boneham's genuine but flawed strategy earned him eighth place in Pearl Islands. Rupert remained more low-key during the "All-Star" season where he placed fourth. A sensitive man, Rupert felt offended by contestants who played "dishonestly" through lying and deception.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, he moved to Indiana at a young age. He attended Haworth High School in Kokomo, Indiana. After graduation, he moved to Texas to study nursing at Cisco Junior College and San Angelo University.

Boneham lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife Laura and daughter, Raya. Prior to appearing in Survivor, he worked as a mentor for troubled teens. He has previously worked as a gravedigger and bartender. His hobbies include scuba diving, camping and coin collecting. His favorite sport is racquetball.

Boneham used his winnings to buy a home, set up a college fund for his daughter, pay off his and his mother's debts and start Rupert's Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping troubled teens, especially those mired in the juvenile court system.

Quotes

• "Never give up, never surrender, and never admit defeat."
• "I portray a very strong and independent person. But in my head I'm that fat little terrified kid that was picked on in school all his life."
• "When I was done with my little stint at 27 days and I had 12 days on the jury, I realized that I didn't have to be that scared little kid anymore. I realized that I didn't need to go back to the people that didn't appreciate me as much. My safety zone was opening up a little wider. I could accept people taking me as ok. This was a great journey."

External Links

• Official Site
• Rupert's Kids