Rupert Boneham

Rupert Boneham was a contestant in Survivor: Pearl Islands, Survivor: All-Stars and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. He is recognized by fans with his trademark long beard and his Tye-dyed shirt. He is considered to be one of the show's most popular castaways.

Profile
Born in Detroit, Rupert Boneham moved with his parents at a young age to Indiana where he eventually attended Haworth High School in Kokomo. He then moved to Texas to study nursing at Cisco Junior College and San Angelo University. Boneham currently resides in Indianapolis, where he works as a vocational and clinical mentor for troubled teens. He previously worked as a gravedigger and a bartender. His hobbies include scuba diving, camping and coin collecting. His favorite sport is racquetball. He describes himself as strong, smart and brave. He is most proud of becoming independent/self-employed and being able to care for his family while not having to live the "Nine-To-Five" world. He believes his competitive advantages on SURVIVOR: PEARL ISLANDS are his ability to be a team player, hunter and gatherer, camper and all-around survivor. Boneham is married to his wife, Laura, and they have one daughter, Raya.

Survivor: America's Tribal Council
At the finale of Survivor: All Stars, viewers were given the opportunity in a contest called "America Votes", to select one of the eighteen contestants to win one million dollars. The finalists were Rupert Boneham, Colby Donaldson, Tom Buchanan, and Rob Mariano. Rupert won the million dollars, receiving 85% of the 38 million votes cast. He spent his prize money on his family's debts, a college fund for his daughter, a new house for his family, and the creation of his charity, Rupert's Kids, which mentors troubled children.

Post-Survivor
After being awarded one million dollars on 'Survivor: America's Tribal Council, Boneham used a large percentage of his winnings to establish Rupert's Kids, to help "at-risk teens" in his hometown. The organization joined with the City of Indianapolis to create the Park Adoption Program.

Shortly after his Survivor appearances, Boneham briefly appeared at promotional appearances for the Hardee's restaurant chain. In 2004 he appeared as a stable hand named Paul in "The Big My Little Pony Episode", the third season premiere of the TV series Half & Half. In 2006, he appeared in the independent movie Open Mic'rs. He also made a cameo appearance as a homeless man in The Radford Reshuffle, the sixth season premiere of the show Yes, Dear.

Rupert is currently running for governor of Indiana.

Trivia

 * Rupert has been a member of the jury in each of the three seasons he took part in, the most out of any player.
 * On Survivor: All-Stars, Rupert was part of every single tribe, first starting on the Saboga tribe. Then, when Saboga dissolved, he was then placed on the Chapera tribe. Later in the game, he was placed on the Mogo Mogo tribe as part of the tribe switch. Finally, the tribes merged, and the tribe was named Chaboga Mogo. During this entire time, Jenna Lewis was on the same tribe as Rupert.
 * Rupert is the only Survivor contestant from Indiana.
 * Rupert was the first contestant to play back to back.
 * Rupert is the first contestant that has achieved the feat of playing for 100 days and has not been in the final two or final three.
 * Rupert was on a blue tribe every season.
 * Rupert has won the most money out of the winners of the Fan Favorite Award, with $1,000,000. Subsequent fan favorite winners, Cirie Fields and Ozzy Lusth won a car. Starting from Survivor: China, all proceeding fan favorites earn an extra $100,000.
 * Total number of votes against him: 21.