Outlast: The Jungle star Wes Saunders is one of 16 contestants vying for a $1 million prize in the survival show. The 37-year-old NFL veteran transitioned from professional sports to reality television, bringing his competitive edge to the Panamanian jungle.
Wes Saunders' NFL Career and Earnings
Wes Saunders began his NFL journey in July 2011 as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He secured a spot on the official 53-man roster later that year. In 2012, he moved to the Indianapolis Colts after serving a suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy due to a positive test for Adderall, a stimulant used for Attention Deficit Disorders.
Despite early setbacks, Saunders earned substantial income from his football contracts. According to Spotrac, he made approximately $1.2 million from his playing contracts. However, his total net worth is estimated to be around $1.5 million, with some sources like The Tab reporting a figure as high as $5 million, making him one of the highest earners on the Netflix show.
Outlast: The Jungle Competition
The series drops 16 strangers into the jungle with minimal supplies, challenging them to survive and compete for the grand prize. As the finale approaches, only a few contestants remain, including Saunders, Sarah Awad, Abby Chu, Morgan Colburn, Braxton Fish, Pharaoh Gayles, Nikki Hru, Maddy Jones, and Leiya Pillitteri.
Showrunner Mike Odair praised this season's lineup, stating, "This season felt like throwing gasoline on the format. We traded the frozen isolation of Alaska for the heat and volatility of Panama, and everything changed: the survival, the strategy, and the social dynamics. This may be our most dynamic group yet."
The winner of Outlast: The Jungle will be revealed in next week's grand finale, with Saunders among the top contenders.
