Introduction
Rick Devens has built one of the more unusual reality TV résumés in recent memory. He first became a fan favorite as a small-market news anchor who turned into a Survivor underdog story, and in 2026 he became only the second Survivor castaway ever to cross over onto Big Brother.
Off-screen, Devens has spent nearly two decades working in local television news in Macon, Georgia — a career that rarely makes headlines but has quietly funded his life between reality show appearances.
So how much is Rick Devens actually worth, and where does his money come from? Here’s everything confirmed about his career, his earnings, and his life outside the game.
Who Is Rick Devens?
Patrick William “Rick” Devens was born in 1984 and raised in Blacksburg, Virginia, in a military family — his father was an Airborne Army Ranger and West Point graduate. Rick became an Eagle Scout in his youth before attending Virginia Tech, where he studied broadcast journalism in the School of Communication.
He started his television career as a tape editor at WSLS in Roanoke, Virginia, before joining WGXA in Macon, Georgia, in 2006. He worked his way up from commercial producer to sports director, and was eventually chosen as the station’s first morning news anchor when WGXA launched its own morning program.
His Survivor Breakthrough
Devens first gained national attention in 2019 on Survivor: Edge of Extinction, the franchise’s 38th season. He was voted out relatively early but earned his way back into the game through the season’s “Edge of Extinction” twist, then went on a run that included four individual immunity challenge wins and four Hidden Immunity Idols found — a season record. He made it all the way to the Final Four before being eliminated just short of the finale.
Devens didn’t win the season, but he didn’t leave empty-handed either: pop star Sia, a fan of his gameplay, donated funds that brought his total take from the season to $100,000.
His popularity from that season led to a recurring spot on the official Survivor podcast alongside host Jeff Probst, and years later, an invitation back for Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, making him one of a small handful of players to compete in both the show’s “New Era” format and its 50th-season all-star run.
From Local News to Big Brother
Away from Survivor, Devens continued working in Macon media and later became Director of Communications at Middle Georgia State University, a role he stepped away from in 2026. That same year, CBS announced he would join the cast of Big Brother 28 — themed “Time Trip” — becoming only the second Survivor alum, after Cirie Fields, to compete on Big Brother.
Devens is also known locally for advocacy work supporting wheelchair sports programs and animal rescue efforts in the Macon area. In recognition of that work, Macon-Bibb County officially declared May 21, 2019, “Rick Devens Day.”
Family Life
Devens is married to his wife, Becca, with whom he has two children, Jack and Benedict. The family has lived in Macon, Georgia, for years, where Devens built his broadcasting career before reality television made him a recognizable name well beyond central Georgia.
Rick Devens’ Net Worth
Rick Devens has not publicly disclosed his net worth, and there are no official financial filings or verified figures available. What is confirmed is his $100,000 payout from Survivor: Edge of Extinction, plus years of steady income from a career in local television news and, more recently, university communications work.
Some unofficial celebrity-net-worth aggregators circulate estimates, but these figures aren’t independently verified and should be treated as speculation rather than fact. Given his long-running local news salary, his Survivor winnings, and any Big Brother stipend or prize money still to be determined, a reasonable picture is a working media professional with steady, middle-class earnings boosted by occasional reality TV paydays — not a reality TV megastar living off endorsement deals.
Why People Search for Rick Devens
Devens keeps resurfacing in search interest for a simple reason: he’s one of the few people to be a fan-favorite across two completely different reality competition formats. Survivor fans remember his idol-hunting, high-energy Edge of Extinction run; Big Brother fans are discovering him for the first time in 2026. Each new season he appears on brings a fresh wave of people asking who he is, what he does for a living, and how much his reality TV career has actually earned him.
FAQs
Q1: What does Rick Devens do for a living?
Rick Devens spent nearly 20 years as a local television news anchor and sports director at WGXA in Macon, Georgia, and later worked as Director of Communications at Middle Georgia State University.
Q2: How much money did Rick Devens win on Survivor?
He placed fourth on Survivor: Edge of Extinction but received a $100,000 donation from singer Sia, who was impressed by his gameplay.
Q3: Is Rick Devens married?
Yes. He is married to his wife, Becca, and the couple has two children, Jack and Benedict.
Q4: Has Rick Devens been on other reality shows besides Survivor?
Yes. After his original Survivor: Edge of Extinction season and a return appearance on Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, Devens joined the cast of Big Brother 28 in 2026, becoming just the second Survivor alum to compete on the show.
Conclusion
Rick Devens’ story is less about overnight reality TV riches and more about a small-market news anchor who kept finding his way back into the national spotlight. Between a record-setting Survivor run, a rare Survivor-to-Big Brother crossover, and years of steady work behind a local news desk, Devens has built a career defined by persistence rather than a single lucky break — even if his exact net worth remains his own business for now.