Survivor Auction

The Survivor Auction is a traditional event that occasionally appears in Survivor.

About
The Survivor Auction is a special Reward Challenge where the players are temporarily relieved from competing in strenuous challenges. Instead, they will be given a specific sum of money where they must outbid the other contestants for certain items (which are mostly food), with instances where temporary use of amenities and visit from loved ones are also offered. There are also, albeit rarely, instances where there are game-changing powers they can outbid on, such as power to send another player to Exile Island, or an advantage at the next Immunity Challenge. The host would pound a gavel on the auction table, signifying that the item is already sold.

Sometimes, there are covered items where the host will reveal a covered item which will remain covered until someone outbids everybody. In connection to covered items—there are also "trap items," with its contents are only to be shown until there is a winning bidder, only to reveal an undesirable prize, such as exotic food items and boiled water from their camp. Also, the host will sometimes tempt the contestant to trade his/her chosen item for another sealed item, which sometimes reveal a "better" item, or a more undesirable one.

In recent seasons, players are to outbid on items that would benefit the entire tribe, such as all-tribe food item to be eaten in a certain amount of time, and an extra food supply. This could serve as doing a favor for the tribe, in order to establish a better position in the game.

Rules
Prior to the auction starting, the host announces the guidelines of the auction. In order for a Survivor to bid they must adhere to the following rules:
 * Survivors are given a small amount of money (this may vary from local currency to USD$) and can choose to bid as many times as they wish using however much money they have.
 * The host would open the bidding with a flat rate that follows the prescribed increment (if bidding is at $20 increments, the host may open the bidding at $40). This has been abandoned in recent seasons.
 * Bids will be in increments at the host's discretion. Survivors can, however, immediately bid a large amount, or all of the money in their possession, in an attempt to instantly win a desired item.
 * "Pooling" (sharing money along with the item up for auction with other players) is permitted, as long as they share the item and/or vice versa. This option has been voided in recent seasons.
 * Food which is bought must be eaten before leaving the auction area.
 * The auction will end without notice.
 * Sealed/covered items will remain such until the item is sold.

Impact
The auction is well received by fans, primarily with seeing the contestants enjoying food and sharing it with their tribemates or keeping it for themselves. It also provides an insight as to whether or not a Castaway will risk what they have bought in order for a concealed item, which is typically low-standard local cuisine or an improvement on what has been won. Also, hogging too many items from the auction may cost a player dearly, being a potential factor to the hoarder's elimination.

Trivia

 * Jeff Probst has stated that when the castaways finish the auction, they may keep their unspent money as a reminder of home. Jeff even claimed that some contestants do not bid at all so they can keep the money.
 * is the only season to feature an auction during the pre-Merge stage of the game, where the tribes outbid each other for items.
 * Amber Brkich is the first contestant to buy a "mystery item" at the Survivor Auction that revealed to be a "trap item." The mystery item was a pitcher of river water back in Survivor: The Australian Outback.
 * Danni Boatwright is the first contestant to ever buy an advantage at the next Immunity Challenge.
 * Stephenie LaGrossa is the first returning contestant to participate in more than one auction, in  then in.
 * She was followed by Parvati Shallow in and, Jonathan Penner in Cook Islands and , Erik Reichenbach in Micronesia and  and Malcolm Freberg in Philippines and Caramoan.
 * Most Survivor Auctions have been on Day 28, with the exceptions of, Guatemala (both on Day 31), (Day 25), and in Thailand (Day 15).
 * Natalie Bolton from Micronesia spent the most money in the auction (excluding Africa's auction), spending a total of $860. She spent $240 on fruit bat soup, $240 to send Jason Siska to Exile Island, and $380 for a giant chocolate cake she shared with Parvati, Alexis Jones and Cirie Fields.
 * Ken Hoang earned the most money (technically) in the auction, however. Natalie had $20 when she earned Jason's money, while Ken had $300 left when he took Bob Crowley's money, giving him a total of $700 at the auction.