He won $500,000 in prize money after winning Australian Survivor.
But on Wednesday’s Kyle and Jackie O Show, Qantas international flight attendant Jericho Malabonga revealed that he had to move back in with his parents after going 55 days without pay.
‘I came back and I was like, “You guys, I gotta go back to my parents,”‘ the 25-year-old said, on returning from the Samoan island.
‘I had to move back in with my parents’: Australian Survivor’s Jericho Malabonga (left), 25, revealed on Wednesday’s Kyle and Jackie O Show, the downside of 55 days without pay…despite winning $500,000 prize money
‘I went to (Australian) Survivor, I got back. I was without pay, so I was (still) paying rent,’ Jericho explained to co-hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson.
‘I came back and I was like, “You guys I gotta go back to my parents,”‘ the reality star continued with a laugh.
‘I got to a point where I was like, I’ve actually got no money left.
‘I wasn’t broke. It was more like I’ll just go back to Dad. We got back (from Survivor) and I was without 55 days of rent while on the island,’ Jericho went on to explain.
Life goes on: Jericho, who was crowned Australian Survivor 2017 winner on Tuesday night, explained to radio co-hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson that he was without pay for 55 days, while on the Samoan island, and still had to pay rent
The comments come shortly after Jericho told The Daily Telegraph’s Confidential that he won’t quit his job at Qantas because he loves it too much.
‘I love my job. I don’t think I would let this prize money change something I worked really hard for,’ he told the publication.
Jericho beat 32-year-old Tara Pitt to win the show on Tuesday’s grand finale episode.
The young man from the Philippines outlasted 23 other contestants to win the title of Australian Survivor 2017, after spending 55 days in the Samoan jungle on the island of Upolu.
Highly emotional: Jericho beat 32-year-old Tara Pitt to win the show on Tuesday’s grand finale episode. The young man from the Philippines outlasted 23 other contestants
‘I love my job’: Despite Jericho winning $500,000 in cash prize money, he previously told The Daily Telegraph’s Confidential that he won’t be quitting his job as a Qantas international flight attendant
The final tribal council, which took place in Australia rather than Samoa, was extremely tense, and had Jericho and opponent Tara frequently tied for votes.
But with three votes for Tara and four votes for Jericho, the Qantas employee claimed the final $500,000 cash prize.
Host Jonathan LaPaglia revealed on Tuesday that the show is yet to be picked up for another season on Channel Ten following dismal ratings.
However, he did suggest that the fact CBS has bought the network may change that.
Set to return? Host Jonathan LaPaglia (pictured) revealed on Tuesday that the show is yet to be picked up for another season on Channel Ten following dismal ratings. However, he did suggest that the fact CBS has bought the network may change that