By the 43rd season of a TV show, you usually understand how the ending is going to go. For a reality show like “Survivor”, the outcome is often scripted and has few surprises in the finale. 

The winner chosen at the end takes home a $1 million prize for themselves and their family. But after 22 years on air, this year’s winner showed us what we all need more of in the world ‒ selflessness and grace.

Mike Gabler, from Kingwood, Tx., made his mark on a show that has been around for decades. And he couldn’t have done it without the votes from his fellow castmates.

Throughout the season, which took place on islands in Fiji, Gabler said that if he managed to win, his $1 million prize wouldn’t be for him ‒ it would be for veterans. And when the final 7-1-0 vote came, he was named ‘Sole Survivor’. It was the first time this season that his name had been written down. 

“There are people who need that money more,” Gabler said to the host, Jeff Probst, after he won, and kept his word.

And I’m going to donate the entire prize ‒ the entire million dollar prize, in my father’s name, Robert Gabler, who was a Green Beret ‒ to veterans in need who are recovering from psychiatric problems, PTSD, and curb the suicide epidemic.”

Mike Gabler with his family. Photo from YouTube

“We’re going to save lives and do something good,” he told his fellow contestants. “Season 43, all of us did this. A million dollars is going to them. We made history guys.”

Before revealing what he planned to do with the prize money, Gabler spoke about how he and the others had been changed by their time on the reality show. “We all have the chance of a lifetime out here, the adventure of a lifetime,” he said. “What we all learned from each other is priceless. It all made us better.”

Probst asked Gabler how things were financially for him, after his ‘beautiful gesture.’ Gabler said he didn’t have a lot of money, but “no I’ve worked very hard, I’ve been fortunate.” 

“But you know, I realized being through this experience, I am rich at home. I have an amazing life at home. I have an amazing family. I have amazing friends. I need to be a better husband, I need to be a better father, I need to be a better brother, I need to be a better son. I’m going to do all those things just like all of us are going to do that when we go home.”

“And to take this million dollars in this time period where there’s so much going on in the news that people don’t like to look at, and we go, ‘Well that’s why we’re watching “Survivor”, because amazing things happen on this show, and we just did another one on Season 43.”

“We’re going to help veterans in need and we’re going to donate that entire million dollars to them,” Gabler shared. “And I’m forever grateful that we did this.

Watch below as Gabler is announced the winner.

Sources: My Positive Outlook | People