When Jericho Malabonga arrived in Australia three years ago he was unemployed and took a job cleaning toilets at Jetstar.
But, despite being the winner of Australian Survivor and being $500,000 richer thanks to the prize money, the 25-year-old has revealed he won’t quit his job.
In an interview with Confidential on Wednesday, the Filpino-Australian protested that he enjoys his role as an international flight attendant too much to give it up.
‘I love my job!’ Australian Survivor winner Jericho Malabonga says he won’t quit as a Qantas flight attendant despite $500,000 prize money
‘I love my job,’ he told the publication.
The added: ‘I don’t think I would let this prize money change something I worked really hard for.’
Jericho went on to say that he hasn’t even processed winning the show yet.
‘I’m still pinching myself, I’m still in shock…in a week or two I might be like, holy crap, what just happened?’ he said.
‘I love my job’: Despite the 25-year-old winning $500,000 in cash prize money, Jericho claims he will not be quitting his job as an international flight attendant at Qantas
‘I’m still pinching myself, I’m still in shock’: Jericho is still finding it hard to come to terms with outlasting 23 other contestants to win the show’s second season
Jericho, who beat 32-year-old Tara Pitt to win the show, also said he hadn’t figured out what he would spend his winnings on yet either.
He said that so far, the most expensive thing he has bought is a Go-Pro worth $400.
The young man from the Philippines outlasted 23 other contestants to win the title of Australian Survivor 2017 on Tuesday night, after spending 55 days in the Samoan jungle on the island of Upolu.
Nailbiting finale! Jericho beat out Queensland native Tara with four votes to three following a tense final tribal council
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 25-year-old flight attendant claimed the final $500,000 cash prize.
Host Jonathon 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.
Will it return? Host Jonathon LaPaglia confirmed Australian Survivor has not been picked up by Channel Ten for a third season yet