Portal:Indianapolis/Selected biography/12
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rupert Boneham (born January 27, 1964) was a contestant on Survivor: Pearl Islands and Survivor: All-Stars, who subsequently became one of the most known stars of reality television. He was given 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 votes cast for the Survivors. 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. Since All-Stars ended, he has appeared in promotions for local Indiana businesses as well as national promos for Survivor: Vanuatu.
During the game of Survivor: Pearl Islands, Rupert quickly became one of the most popular Survivor contestants, and was well-known for his huge beard, tie-dye shirt and size. Boneham's flawed strategy of providing food and expecting no one to vote for him earned him eighth place in Pearl Islands. Rupert remained more low-key during the "All-Star" season where he placed fourth.
Rupert is a frequent guest on the Bob and Tom Show – also done in Indianapolis – and is considered a "friend of the show". He has also done commercial work recently.
