In case you haven't heard, here's the scoop on the S45 Sia money. Note the huge error in the story. Dude who wrote it must not watch the show.
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Exclusive: Sia crowns Katurah Topps as her favorite 'Survivor' after the season 45 finale

Anthony Robledo
USA TODAY

This story contains spoilers about the latest survivor season, including the winner.

The winner of Survivor season 45 was revealed Tuesday night but an arguably even more honorable title was also announced.

Pop star Sia revealed her three favorite contestants from the latest season of the CBS reality competition show.

Katurah Topps was named the superfan's favorite player and rewarded with over $100,000. Topps, an attorney from New York, started out on the Belo tribe and made it to the season finale before ultimately being eliminated.

"Omg omg. Today I got one of the best video calls of my life — @Sia told me that I was her FAVORITE PLAYER of #Survivor45 and she is awarding me $100,000!" Topps wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "I’m so deeply honored, appreciative, and honestly, still in awe."

Kaleb Gebrewold, a software salesman on the Lulu tribe, and Jacob "Jake" O’Kane, an attorney on Belo, were each rewarded $15,000 by the "Unstoppable" singer.

The Grammy-nominated artist has given funds to her favorite Survivor players since 2016, accumulating over $1 million in contestant giveaways.

Last season, she awarded $100,000 to second runner-up Carolyn Wiger, as well as $15,000 each to Carson Garrett and Lauren Harpe. Garrett, a self-proclaimed Sia stan in the top 0.1% of her listeners on Spotify, in May shared a video on Instagram of his call with the pop star, in which she reveals she's giving him $15,000.

Dee Valladares beat Austin Li Coon and O'Kane in a 5-3-0 final jury vote.

The 26-year-old entrepreneur from Miami outwitted, outplayed and outlasted her competitors in Fiji for 26 days winning the $1 million prize and the title of Sole Survivor.

Contributing: Charles Trepany

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2023/12/21/survivor-sia-money-season-45/72004159007/

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Brian

On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 4:05:17 PM UTC-8, Brian Smith wrote:

> Exclusive: Sia crowns Katurah Topps as her favorite 'Survivor' after the season 45 finale
> Katurah Topps was named the superfan's favorite player and rewarded with over $100,000. Topps, an attorney from New York, started out on the Belo tribe and made it to the season finale before ultimately being eliminated.

> Kaleb Gebrewold, a software salesman on the Lulu tribe, and Jacob "Jake" O’Kane, an attorney on Belo, were each rewarded $15,000 by the "Unstoppable" singer.

Of course Ms.Sia can do whatever she wants with her money, but this is laughable.

On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 6:10:26 PM UTC-7, zeppo wrote:
> On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 4:05:17 PM UTC-8, Brian Smith wrote:
>
> > Exclusive: Sia crowns Katurah Topps as her favorite 'Survivor' after the season 45 finale
> > Katurah Topps was named the superfan's favorite player and rewarded with over $100,000. Topps, an attorney from New York, started out on the Belo tribe and made it to the season finale before ultimately being eliminated.
> > Kaleb Gebrewold, a software salesman on the Lulu tribe, and Jacob "Jake" O’Kane, an attorney on Belo, were each rewarded $15,000 by the "Unstoppable" singer.
> Of course Ms.Sia can do whatever she wants with her money, but this is laughable.

These rewards change the outcome of the game where it matters most. Katurah moves up to second and Austin drops to fourth. As for Sia's reward money being laughable, be thankful she didn't give anything to Hannah.

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Brian

"Brian Smith" wrote in message
news:15f9a975-7230-4e62-a9b2-3ce1f0bf324an@googlegroups.com...
>
>On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 6:10:26 PM UTC-7, zeppo wrote:
>> On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 4:05:17 PM UTC-8, Brian Smith wrote:
>>
>> > Exclusive: Sia crowns Katurah Topps as her favorite 'Survivor' after
>> > the season 45 finale
>> > Katurah Topps was named the superfan's favorite player and rewarded
>> > with over $100,000. Topps, an attorney from New York, started out on
>> > the Belo tribe and made it to the season finale before ultimately being
>> > eliminated.
>> > Kaleb Gebrewold, a software salesman on the Lulu tribe, and Jacob
>> > "Jake" O’Kane, an attorney on Belo, were each rewarded $15,000 by the
>> > "Unstoppable" singer.
>> Of course Ms.Sia can do whatever she wants with her money, but this is
>> laughable.
>
>These rewards change the outcome of the game where it matters most. Katurah
>moves up to second and Austin drops to fourth. As for Sia's reward money
>being laughable, be thankful she didn't give anything to Hannah.
>
>--
>Brian

It's also worth noting that money earned on Survivor is fully taxable.
Money given by Sia is an unsolicited gift and therefore not taxable to the
recipient. So even ignoring her own winnings from the show, Katurahs $100K
from Sia is worth more than Austin's 100K from the show.

--

On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 7:42:12 PM UTC-7, Rick wrote:
> "Brian Smith" wrote in message
> news:15f9a975-7230-4e62...@googlegroups.com...
> >
> >On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 6:10:26 PM UTC-7, zeppo wrote:
> >> On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 4:05:17 PM UTC-8, Brian Smith wrote:
> >>
> >> > Exclusive: Sia crowns Katurah Topps as her favorite 'Survivor' after
> >> > the season 45 finale
> >> > Katurah Topps was named the superfan's favorite player and rewarded
> >> > with over $100,000. Topps, an attorney from New York, started out on
> >> > the Belo tribe and made it to the season finale before ultimately being
> >> > eliminated.
> >> > Kaleb Gebrewold, a software salesman on the Lulu tribe, and Jacob
> >> > "Jake" O’Kane, an attorney on Belo, were each rewarded $15,000 by the
> >> > "Unstoppable" singer.
> >> Of course Ms.Sia can do whatever she wants with her money, but this is
> >> laughable.
> >
> >These rewards change the outcome of the game where it matters most. Katurah
> >moves up to second and Austin drops to fourth. As for Sia's reward money
> >being laughable, be thankful she didn't give anything to Hannah.
> >
> >--
> >Brian
> It's also worth noting that money earned on Survivor is fully taxable.
> Money given by Sia is an unsolicited gift and therefore not taxable to the
> recipient. So even ignoring her own winnings from the show, Katurahs $100K
> from Sia is worth more than Austin's 100K from the show.
>
> --

Very true. Austin should have told some sob stories to have a better shot at some Sia money. If they still had the Sprint (?) player of the season vote, I wonder who would have won? I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have been Katurah?

--
Brian

"Brian Smith" wrote in message
news:e615a095-9871-4aa9-9f42-98bfd00f99f3n@googlegroups.com...
>
>On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 7:42:12 PM UTC-7, Rick wrote:
>> "Brian Smith" wrote in message
>> news:15f9a975-7230-4e62...@googlegroups.com...
>> >
>> >On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 6:10:26 PM UTC-7, zeppo wrote:
>> >> On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 4:05:17 PM UTC-8, Brian Smith wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > Exclusive: Sia crowns Katurah Topps as her favorite 'Survivor' after
>> >> > the season 45 finale
>> >> > Katurah Topps was named the superfan's favorite player and rewarded
>> >> > with over $100,000. Topps, an attorney from New York, started out on
>> >> > the Belo tribe and made it to the season finale before ultimately
>> >> > being
>> >> > eliminated.
>> >> > Kaleb Gebrewold, a software salesman on the Lulu tribe, and Jacob
>> >> > "Jake" O’Kane, an attorney on Belo, were each rewarded $15,000 by
>> >> > the
>> >> > "Unstoppable" singer.
>> >> Of course Ms.Sia can do whatever she wants with her money, but this is
>> >> laughable.
>> >
>> >These rewards change the outcome of the game where it matters most.
>> >Katurah
>> >moves up to second and Austin drops to fourth. As for Sia's reward money
>> >being laughable, be thankful she didn't give anything to Hannah.
>> >
>> >--
>> >Brian
>> It's also worth noting that money earned on Survivor is fully taxable.
>> Money given by Sia is an unsolicited gift and therefore not taxable to
>> the
>> recipient. So even ignoring her own winnings from the show, Katurahs
>> $100K
>> from Sia is worth more than Austin's 100K from the show.
>>
>> --
>
>Very true. Austin should have told some sob stories to have a better shot
>at some Sia money. If they still had the Sprint (?) player of the season
>vote, I wonder who would have won? I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have been
>Katurah?
>
>--
>Brian

I think it would have been Emily.

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