Richard Hatch, the winner of the first season of Survivor in 2000, has been ordered to pay $3,293,471.56 to the US federal government over unpaid tax liabilities, with interest continuing to accrue. The ruling, issued on March 17, 2026, comes more than 25 years after Hatch won $1,010,000 on the reality competition show. The tax dispute involves liabilities from 2000, 2001 and 2012, and follows a lengthy history of legal battles over his finances. Hatch is challenging the latest judgment and has filed an appeal before the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He is representing himself in the case and has said he believes a review of the full record will lead to a fair outcome. The case underscores the lasting financial consequences of unresolved tax disputes, as Hatch continues challenging a multimillion-dollar judgment decades after his television victory.
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