Years later, Richard Hatch still hasn't returned to Survivor. The original winner blames the likes of Dan Spilo for not being able to return. He also called Jeff Probst "despicable" in the past for nixing a comeback.
Truthfully, Hatch doesn't have a squeaky clean reputation. Not only was he a controversial figure on the show, but he also faced several legal troubles outside of the show over the years. One moment specifically would involve the possibility of losing a property. Hatch purchased homes off the map as investments, and it seems like the move did more harm than good.
Let's take a closer look at his life off the camera, and why he thinks a return to Survivor hasn't happened yet.
Richard Hatch Was In Danger Of Losing His Newport Property Over Tax Issues
The first Survivor winner Richard Hatch faced lots of controversy both in and out of the show. Hatch spent 51-months in federal prison due to tax evasion and signing a fake return. His legacy on Survivor was also highly debated. Susan Hawk felt "dehumanized" by the former winner after he brushed up against her during a competition. Adding to that, Hatch was charged with domestic assault and sentenced to one-year probation back in 2001 (though it was overturned in 2002).
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With his popularity in reality TV came an increased fortune. Hatch used some of his earnings as investments. That included the purchase of multiple properties, which included a property of the map in Newport. Things took a turn after Hatch was ordered to pay $2.9 million in taxes. This dates all the way back to his win on Survivor. In September of 2022, Providence Journal detailed what had taken place:
"Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to order the sale of two Newport properties they say Hatch owns to recoup unpaid taxes. They accuse the "Survivor" winner of fraudulently transferring the homes to his sister, Kristin Hatch, in an attempt to thwart the government and his other creditors."
Hatch did not issue a response at the time, and it seems like the matter was taken care of behind clossed doors. Nowadays, Hatch is still active in the reality TV space, appearing on House of Villains.
Richard Hatch Moved Off The Map To Cape Breton After Survivor
Even before his fame on Survivor, Richard Hatch was loving the Cape Breton lifestyle. He purchased a property in the late '90s and as of a few years ago, he was still enjoying the quiet area. Hatch especially loves the big spaces.
Along with living in the area for pleasure, Hatch made other investments in Cape Breton by purchasing different properties. There really isn't any way to know if Hatch made profits on his investments given the legal troubles he faced along the way. Given his rumored net worth of $200,000, it doesn't seem all that likely.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Hatch in terms of his connection to Survivor. The original winner didn't have the kindest things to say about Jeff Probst in the past, and the likelihood of making a return.
Richard Hatch Blamed Jeff Probst For Not Returning To Survivor
Hatch was on his way to making a massive return to Survivor. Yes, he's controversial, but a return certainly could have seen a boost in ratings. Hatch said that the two signs came to an agreement, and the producers even discussed a possible role for him behind the scenes. After passing a physical, Hatch was eyeing a return, that was until Jeff Probst stepped in. Hatch doesn't understand why Jeff nixed his return, and called the host out.
"What’s fascinating is Jeff Probst is trying to dupe you. He’s trying to convince the audience that he’s someone different from who he is now that he’s executive producer. It’s a lie and it’s sad. The truth is he was part of everything that happened in the shows and what got edited and what didn’t."
Hatch continued, "And now he’s in charge of that. And if he didn’t want me to be naked or anyone else in a challenge, they just have that rule. Can’t be naked in challenges. It’s simple. Sadly, he’s choosing a route that has nothing to do with what’s best for the show because I think fans would agree it would be best to see what would the original innovator do now? Given what I did without any precedent on the first season, I wonder what I would do now."
Hatch went on to state that Survivor wasn't doing what was best for viewers, given that his finale reached 54 million viewers. Hatch revealed he did that during a time that TV was all about family, despite the fact that he's apparently not "family friendly" nowadays. Jeff Probst did confirm that getting Hatch on the show was not appropriate.
Survivor
Reality
Release Date
May 31, 2000
Cast
Jeff Probst
Seasons
45
Story By
Jeff Probst
Writers
Jeff Probst
Network
CBS
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu , Netflix
Directors
Jeff Probst
Showrunner
Jeff Probst
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