Boston Rob Twist! Survivor Legend Reappears in Shock Survivor 50 Campaign After Confirming He Won’t Compete
Ever since the official cast of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” was announced by CBS in May 2025, longtime fans of the hit reality competition series have been commiserating over the fact that former champion Rob Mariano – better known as “Boston Rob” – wouldn’t be returning for the milestone installment.
While both Mariano and longtime “Survivor” host Jeff Probst have opened up about the various reasons why the five-time player wouldn’t be returning to defend his most-days-played record on the upcoming season, it now seems that Boston Rob will, in fact, have a part to play in the “Survivor 50” celebrations.
Boston Rob Partners with Toyota for Brand New ‘Survivor 50’ Ad
On Thursday, January 15, Boston Rob appeared in a brand new crossover advertisement for “Survivor 50” and Toyota.
“It’s ‘Survivor’s 50th season and one thing is clear,” says Mariano in the video posted to the show’s official Instagram account. “Winner’s intuition – either you’ve got it, or you don’t.”
“It’s obvious I’ve got it,” he continues, stepping into a Toyota Land Cruiser and pressing the ignition button. “The question is, buddy, do you?”
“It’s more than making the plan, it’s adapting. It’s listening to your gut and taking a detour. That’s how I win – In the game, and in life,” Mariano adds before teasing that his collaboration with Toyota will continue in the coming weeks.
CBS“Look back on my game moves on ‘Survivor’ with the best companion for any adventure, the Toyota Land Cruiser. Get the inside scoop and celebrate ‘Survivor’s 50th season, and get ready for your chance to play the game off the island. Stay tuned to ride along with me and my journey down memory lane with Toyota Land Cruiser,” the “Survivor: Redemption Island” victor concludes. “Cuz who wouldn’t want to learn from the best?”
The nature of Boston Rob’s “journey down memory lane” remains, for now, a mystery, though his hints towards fans’ ability to “play the game off the island” likely refers to the “Survivor 50 Challenge,” which invites viewers nationwide to search for Immunity Idols hidden in each of the 50 states for a chance to win tickets to the upcoming season’s live finale taping in Los Angeles.
Is ‘Survivor’s Car Reward Challenge Returning for Season 50?
While we’ll have to wait for further information on Mariano’s collaboration with Toyota, some fans have already started speculating that the corporate crossover could hint at the long-awaited return of “Survivor”s car reward.
Between season 2 and 14 of the franchise, contestants were given the chance to compete for a brand new car during one of the season’s reward challenges.
Although the prize ultimately led to the infamous “car curse,” wherein no player who ever won a vehicle went on to also claim the title of “Sole Survivor” at the end of the season, it was a defining factor of the show’s early era, which was rife with corporate sponsorships.
In the past, “Survivor” awarded contestants like Colby Donaldson with a Pontiac Aztek, while Lex van den Berghe “drove” away from the competition in a brand new Chevy Avalanche. Additional corporate automotive sponsors included car brands such as Saturn, GMC and Ford.
Boston Rob himself won a Chevy Colorado on “Survivor: All-Stars.”
It’s been 19 years since “Survivor” gave away a car reward, but that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating its return for Season 50.
Fans and Former Players React to Boston Rob’s Toyota Collab
“The return of the car curse???” wrote one fan on Instagram, while another added, “Car adverts in Survivor? We’re so back.”
Other fans were just excited to see that Boston Rob would be playing a part on the upcoming season, including “Survivor 50” contestant Dee Valladares, who wrote, “If Boston Rob tells us to buy a Land Cruiser then we’re buying a Land Cruiser.”
“Soooo Obsessed with every promo you make,” added another fan, while a third wrote, “Omg [Boston Rob] better show up with a car challenge.”
A third set of commenters – mostly “Survivor 50” contestants – were most impressed by the car itself, including Rizo Velovic, who wrote, “guess I’m buying a Toyota now,” and Kyle Fraser, who added, “Quick and very serious questions for a friend (definitely not me) but do all Survivor winners get a Land Cruiser (preferably in that same exact make and model)?”
