“Smart move” — Survivor host Jeff Probst chimes in on new Auction twist

In season 47, Survivor brought back its popular auction, where contestants bid on food, comforts, and game-changing advantages. The auction had been absent for a while due to logistical challenges but returned to the excitement of both contestants and fans.

This season, however, the auction is back with several new twists that raise the stakes and add fresh strategic layers. According to host and executive producer Jeff Probst, the latest Survivor auction format aims to make bidding a more intense experience, adding both reward and risk.

In the latest episode of On Fire: The Official Survivor Podcast, which aired right after episode 5 of the show on October 16, Jeff shared the design changes meant to enhance unpredictability and strategic depth. He described it as:

"smart move"

Jeff Probst shares insights on the new Survivor auction twist

Why the auction returned and how it's planned

The auction is a staple for Survivor, but it took several departments to coordinate its return. Jeff Probst shared that executing the auction requires careful coordination between various teams to ensure a smooth experience.

Freshly prepared food, cash, and a series of unknowns need to be managed in real-time, with each team member contributing ideas on what items will be covered or uncovered and the optimal order of items to keep contestants engaged.

"It takes a lot of departments. You have freshly cooked food items, thousands of dollars of cash, and lots of game unknowns," Probst explained.

Managing the flow and suspense of the auction is a complex, live experience, often likened to live theatre. Supervising Producer Chris Marchand manages spending behind the scenes, keeping track of contestants' bids and remaining money to ensure every twist unfolds smoothly.

“It will be responsible for almost half of the episode. So you're doing all of this at once. It's like live theatre," he noted.

Adding high stakes to the auction

Survivor 47 (Image via Instagram/@survivorcbs)

One of the new twists introduced in season 47 is a Cash Dash, where contestants scavenge the jungle for money before the auction begins. Unlike past seasons, contestants must now find their auction funds, a move that aligns with the "new era" theme of Survivor, in which nothing comes easily.

Once collected, however, this money is a double-edged sword; the contestant with the most money left at the end of the auction loses their vote. Probst described this as adding "real stakes" to the auction, as it forces players to think strategically about their spending.

The risk extends beyond the cash dash as each bid becomes a strategic decision with the threat of losing voting power. As Probst emphasized,

"The twist that whoever has the most money has the most buying power, they also have the most risk, and that, coupled with that being an unknown amount of items, is what gives the auction some real stakes."

The Survivor Cash Back Program

Season 47 introduced the Survivor Cash Back Program, where some items come with a cash rebate. While it seems like a positive addition, it can be a disadvantage in the auction format. For example, contestant Sol Yi found $60 under an apple pie, which complicated his position. With the extra cash, he risked holding onto the most money by the end of the auction, potentially jeopardizing his vote.

According to Probst, the Cash Back Program was devised to prevent players from gaming the auction by spending all their money on one high-value item to avoid losing their vote. He explained,

"The smart move is, whoever has the most money should probably spend all of it to buy an item. So that Money Back program is just a fun twist that some items now come with money, just enough to put you in a dangerous spot."

This addition ensures that contestants remain uncertain about their standing, encouraging calculated risks and avoiding predictable strategies.

Outwit Outplay Outbreakfast

Season 47’s auction brought another nostalgic yet challenging twist with a competition titled Outwit Outplay Outbreakfast. Contestants had the opportunity to bid on a luxurious breakfast platter, but with a catch: to earn the meal, they had to participate in a "grub-off," where they competed to eat grubs.

Probst viewed this as a creative exercise in bringing the gritty, survival-based aspects of early Survivor into the auction. Seeing it as a unique way to merge an appealing reward with a daunting task, he shared,

"I wanted grubs back in the auction."

The grub-eating challenge takes contestants back to the roots of Survivor, where physical resilience and a strong stomach were necessary. Probst noted,

"If you're the fastest to eat the grubs, then you get the food item, and you get rid of your $200."

Failure to finish, however, meant losing both the food and the chance to reduce one’s cash, potentially risking a vote if they had too much money left.

Avoiding predictable strategies with hidden advantages

In past seasons, players would often save their money until a game advantage, like an immunity idol clue, appeared in the auction, leading to less competitive and engaging bidding. This season, the auction was revived without explicitly promising advantages, creating uncertainty among players.

Probst clarified that while this edition did feature a hidden advantage for Rachel LaMont, it wasn’t a guaranteed aspect of the auction and shouldn’t be relied upon in the future. Probst cautioned future contestants by saying,

"Make your assumptions based on history. But do not assume that this means there will be an advantage in future auctions."

By keeping the potential for advantages hidden and variable, the show aims to keep future auctions dynamic, reducing predictable gameplay and pushing contestants to make decisions without clear expectations.

Catch all the drama and strategy on Survivor, airing Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. For those who miss the live broadcast, full episodes are available to stream the next day on Paramount+.

Edited by Divya Singh