Here's How Much Money Survivor Rakes In After 40+ Seasons on Air

The CBS reality show Survivor premiered back in 2000, and it is still one of the most beloved reality series out there, even after more than two decades on the air.

With each season following a group of contestants trying to survive in harsh conditions and compete in various challenges to win a $1 million prize, Survivor has brought huge revenues to CBS during its 44 seasons, and fans are wondering just how much money the series has been able to make.

Although the show's first season was not even considered a potential hit during its development, the viewership figures for the first two episodes exceeded all expectations, and the producers immediately realized they were on to something big.

A 30-second ad cost advertisers a reasonable $150,000 at the start of season one, and by its finale, the price had soared to $600,000, making Survivor one of the most profitable CBS franchises.

The financial success continued in season two, which premiered immediately after the Super Bowl, and the network was able to set an insane price of $2.4 million for a 30-second commercial, making almost $100 million in just one day. After the Super Bowl, CBS continued to use Survivor as a golden goose, charging around $350,000 per commercial.

Besides, advertising is not the only way Survivor makes money, as product placement has played a big role in the show's revenues since the very first season.

Sponsors have committed $14 million in production support, making the production of each new season a hugely successful venture for CBS. Just one season of Survivor All-Stars brought in $166.6 million in revenue for the channel.

While the number of Survivor viewers has been declining over the past decade, around five million people still watch the show weekly, allowing CBS to charge high prices for product placement and advertising. Overall, the hit reality series seems to have made more than a billion dollars for CBS over its 44 seasons on the air.