Jeff Probst Reveals How Survivor Is Changing the $1 Million Prize

Survivor's Jeff Probst Reacts After Accidentally Spoiling Major Season 50 Finale MomentIt’s time to drop your buffs—and your jaws. Ahead of Survivor’s season 51 premiere Sept. 23, longtime host Jeff Probst explained how the show is continuing to outwit, outplay and outlast itself as it enters what has been dubbed the “Open Era,” and how the prize pot is forever changed because of it. “We took an idea from 50, this idea of a million dollar coin flip,” Probst told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published Sept. 22. “We said, ‘What if we put that in the show every season?’” During season 50, Survivor implemented a twist courtesy of MrBeast where contestant Rick Devens correctly guessed a coin toss and doubled the $1 million prize, which ultimately went to winner Aubry Bracco. And since Probst and his fellow executive producers felt “enormous pressure” to deliver after such a massive season, they decided to “put a twist” on the coin toss for season 51. “Same rules as 50 with one difference. If you call it incorrectly, you as a coin flipper are out, that million dollars rolls into the next season of Survivor,” he continued. “So in Survivor 51, at some point, a player’s going to flip a coin for a million dollars. If they land it, the prize pool will be $2 million for 51.” However, the 64-year-old added, “If they don’t land it, that million dollars will go into Survivor 52 and somebody will flip a $2 million coin making the prize money $3 million. And if that doesn’t land, it’ll go into 53. It will go until it pays off and then it’ll start again.” Robert Voets/CBSAs Probst sees it, the updated coin toss is “the most innovative twist in prize money in the history of unscripted television.” “That million dollars is a living, breathing thing,” he said. “Imagine where it could go. It could pay off every season and suddenly it’s $2 million every season. It could not pay off for three or four seasons and suddenly somebody’s flipping a coin for three or $4 million.” After all, Probst noted, “That’s what the Open Era offers you, is take all things, old, new, combine them, whatever you want to do.” Ahead of Survivor’s return Sept. 23, read on to meet the castaways of season 51. Robert Voets/CBSCristian ChavezFrom Salt Lake City, the 25-year-old works in Human Resources.Robert Voets/CBSKristin FlickingerThe 49-year-old is a crisis management professional.Robert Voets/CBSMike PinskyThe 32-year-old New Yorker works in sports.Robert Voets/CBSJenna DooreDoore, 30, is a wedding photographer.Robert Voets/CBSMaggie NestorNestor, 40, is a West Virginia farmer.Robert Voets/CBSRob AntonsonThe 40-year-old is an airline gate agent.Robert Voets/CBSSharonda CoxCox, 34, is an OBGYN.Robert Voets/CBSBrady BookerBooker, 27, is a pro wrestler from Tennessee.Robert Voets/CBSAna SaniSani is a voice actress from Toronto, Canada.Robert Voets/CBSDevin WayWay, 33, is an actor who currently resides in Los Angeles.Robert Voets/CBSAaliyah PugliaPuglia is a 24-year-old chef.Robert Voets/CBSDanny “Kilby” KilbyThe 30-year-old hails from Ontario, Canada, and works as a video game designer.Robert Voets/CBSCarter KrullThe 24-year-old is an Iowa farmer.Robert Voets/CBSAngelica “Jelly” LoblackThe 29-year-old teaches sociology.Robert Voets/CBSLewis KellyOriginally from Ireland, the 28-year-old now lives on a farm with his wife in Puerto Rico.Robert Voets/CBSEric MacksoudThe 34-year-old is a mental health counselor.Robert Voets/CBSOri Jean-CharlesThe New York native, 27, is a personal trainer.Robert Voets/CBSAn “Thien An” NguyenHailing from Texas, the 24-year-old is currently in medical school.Robert Voets/CBSPatt CannadayCannaday, 33, is a criminal prosecutor.Robert Voets/CBSLinnea CapobiancoThe 25-year-old entrepreneur hails from New Jersey.Robert Voets/CBSAlexis LevineThe Georgia native, 34, is a criminal defense attorney.For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App