Richard Hatch

Richard Hatch
Richard Hatch shocked the country when he was crowned the original Sole Survivor on SURVIVOR: BORNEO. Since then, he has been touring the world as a spokesperson and motivational speaker. He worked as a correspondent for "Entertainment Tonight" and CBS News' THE EARLY SHOW, and made a guest-starring appearance on CBS's BECKER.

Richard continues to run his own business as a corporate trainer and consultant, conducting seminars on numerous topics, including conflict management, team building, practical negotiation and public speaking. In addition, he is a licensed real estate agent and has worked as a car salesman and bartender. He spent five years in the Army, initially enlisting and then becoming a West Point Cadet.

Richard's education includes studies in oceanography and marine biology at Florida Institute of Technology, management at The United States Military Academy and general studies at George Mason University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Applied Behavioral Sciences through National-Louis University.

Richard describes himself as bright, rational, spontaneous and humorous, "just as comfortable running a meeting in a boardroom as attending the annual nude weenie roast of the American Society of Harley Davidson Enthusiasts." He enjoys provocative and meaningful conversation, any sport involving water (snorkeling, spear fishing, swimming, etc.) and camping.

Richard continues to live in his hometown, Middletown, Rhode Island. He is single and has an adopted son, Christopher. His birth date is April 8, 1961.

Survivor: Borneo
Survivor: Borneo was the start of it all. Richard Hatch was originally part of the Tagi tribe alongside fellow contestants: Stacey Stillman, Rudy Boesch, Susan Hawk, Kelly Wiglesworth, Dr. Sean Kenniff, Dirk Been, and Sonja Christopher. Earlier on he created a fourway alliance between himself, Rudy, Kelly, and Susan in a pact to go to the Final Four and eliminate the Pagong tribe as well as Dirk, Stacey, and Sonja. Richard saved Rudy during the first tribal council and helped gather votes to get rid of Sonja. During the tribal period, Tagi only lost three members: Sonja, Stacey, and Dirk. Once the Tagi alliance made the merge, they duped the original members of the Pagong tribe that they were all equal. Gretchen was sent home as the first victim in the Ratanna tribe, followed by Challenge Threat Greg Buis who started off the jury. Kelly Wigglesworth began to consider abandoning the alliance and this worried Richard. So he convinced Susan and Rudy to vote for who is up next alphabetically, knowning Sean would vote for that person. In effect he planned Jenna Lewis's boot and Dr. Sean Kenniff accidently sent her home due to the Alphabetical Order voting strategy. Soon after he finished picking off the original Pagong tribe by eliminating Gervase Peterson and Colleen Haskell. Kelly's immunity run began to tamper with events, as Dr. Sean Kenniff was voted out when he was originally intended on being the fourth person in Richard's dream final four. However his life in the game almost came to an end during the Final Four when Kelly and Susan voted for Rich, and Richard and Rudy voted for Susan. The two were deadlocked and in a revote, Susan Hawk was sent home. In the Final Three Immunity Challenge (which was recently mentioned by Big Brother contestant Mike "Boogie" Malin during a challenge in the seventh season]], Richard arrogantly hopped off to the side and eliminated himself out of the final immunity challenge, knowning both Rudy and Kelly would both have to take him to the finals. Kelly ended up winning the final challenge and voted out the oldest contestant and Richard's best ally, Rudy Boesch. The Final two were set, and in the end it came down to a number. The votes were tied up three-to-three. Greg Buis would decide the winner of the first Survivor competition by whoever guessed the closest number he had set in his head. The number was nine, and Richard guessed closest. Kelly Wigglesworth lost Survivor: Borneo by a single vote and darkhorse Richard Hatch was crowned the first Survivor Winner.

Write up his Borneo Gameplay.

Survivor: All-Stars
Richard Hatch was one of four previous winners to compete in Survivor: All-Stars in early 2004. Richard blatently walked around naked and provided for his tribe, much like in Borneo. However he knew he had a target on his back and that he would probably be leaving early. Shii Ann Huang was one of the few castaways who wanted to keep him around because, in her opinion, he's the Greatest Survivor to ever play the game. He outlasted two previous winners: Tina Wesson who was voted out first and Jenna Morasca who quit the game due to her dying mother. He also outlasted strategical mastermind Rob Cesternino and his former ally from Borneo, Rudy Boesch who was part of the Saboga tribe and was voted out second due to an injury. But finally once the Saboga tribe was absorbed and Jerri Manthey and Survivor: Africa winner Ethan Zohn joined the new Mogo Mogo tribe, Richard was voted out in a plan lead by Survivor: Australian Outback Runner-Up Colby Donaldson. He was unanimously voted out of the tribe, lead to believe it was Colby himself going home.

Survivor: All-Stars Final Words
One of the biggest things that surprised me about the entire SURVIVOR: ALL-STARS was how difficult it was. It was physically--and mentally, I would say--more tough than I had planned, certainly more tough than the original game I played. Why? I'm not exactly sure. But, physically, more depleted, way, way earlier; lots of things played into that. Did I think people were playing really hard? No, I didn't think they were playing hard or well. Whoops! So much for what I thought: I'm gone!

But…interesting. You know, I can't wait to see it. I keep saying that I can't wait to see what really was going on. I came to Tribal Council tonight really thinking that Colby was going. I've never had my torch snuffed; I've never had it put out; my torch has always remained lit. How did it feel to have it put out? Okay; it felt okay. Maybe it was my time. I like the shock of it. I like that I played. My gosh, this last afternoon before Tribal Council, I was running from one spot to another trying to catch that conversation, talk to this person about that, trying to instill in whoever I thought I was going to be close to that they could count on me. But I obviously made some errors. Many of them!

The second time around, the biggest difference for me was probably the lack of newness, knowing what the game is, knowing the intensity of the living conditions. You're IN them, and it's tough. It's very difficult. I found myself wanting out of the game a few times really, really early on. I kicked myself in the butt and said, "What the hell are you talking about? You've got a check waiting for you." Surprise, surprise! No, I don't!

But still, fun game! Fun game! I would do SURVIVOR…well, now I'm lying. I was going to say I'd do a third, fourth and fifth time: yeah, right! Initially, when you're at home and you're thinking about the game, and you've had some time, and you haven't been out camping, you're thinking, "Yeah, let me back in again!" And an opportunity to win some money. But when you get in it, it's pretty tough.

Did I learn anything on Survivor about me or anything meaningful in life, and blah blah blah? No. Abso-freakin'-lutely not!

Memorable Moments

 * Walking around naked often.
 * Winning over favorite Kelly Wigglesworth by a single vote.
 * Saying flat out in the first episode of Survivor that he would win the million dollars.
 * Rudy and his relationship, that wasn't in a homosexual way.
 * When he was finally voted out he yelled "I've Been Bamboozled!".

Trivia

 * Arrested in 2006 for Tax Fraud
 * Compared to by Mike "Boogie" Malin on Big Brother: All-Stars during one of the final HoH competions.
 * Has a son
 * Competed in Battle of the Network Reality Stars
 * Listed "Gay Porn" as one of his favorite magazines on his Survivor: All-Star Favorites.