True.
I love the Cowboys too, they just pulled a rookie mistake! They frustrated me is all.
I dunno, while I suppose it’s hard for me to be in Mark’s shoes, I still think he should’ve just abandoned the backpack - surely the amount of money they’d win by staying in for another leg or two alone would’ve been enough to buy a new backpack (for whomever he borrowed it from) and new clothes. I almost wonder if he was more insistent because it wasn’t his backpack and felt it wasn’t his to give away. Of course, more fault definitely lies with Mallory for 1) leaving the backpack behind in the first place, 2) refusing to take responsibility for it, and 3) continuing to argue once it became clear that Mark wanted to go back for it.
Can’t fault the Cowboys for their strategic use of the Express Pass - they pretty much hit all most of the good points to give it away: 1) give it to a team that isn’t threatening to pass you, 2) give it to a team that sucks overall, 3) give it to a team that is going to immediately use it. They probably missed out on 4) obtain something in a trade from it, but, that’s the hardest one to do.
If you get eliminated on the fifth leg, you get just as much money as you get if you’re eliminated on the second leg — i.e., none.
Winner, $1,000,000
Runner-up, $25,000
3rd $10,000
4th $7,000
5th $6,000
6th $5,000
7th $4,000
8th $3,500
9th $3,000
10th $2,500
11th $1,500
No kidding! I had no idea. Thanks!
It works similarly on all reality shows like this. (Survivor, Big Brother, etc…)
The longer you last the more money you make, but it’s all a pittance compared to making it to the final. On Big Brother, for example, they get something like $750 to $1250 per week they’re involved with the show, which means making the jury house (so you’re involved with the show for the entire duration) is its own little mini-prize.
I wouldn’t be surprised if making the Survivor jury involved a similar type of bonus.