Divorces, Infants and Most cancers Scares: Checking In With The Wonderful Race’s Most Memorable Profitable Groups
It was a easy premise.
11 groups of two would race around the globe, competing in legs that might require them to navigate picturesque overseas locales whereas performing bodily and psychological challenges. Leg after leg, one workforce could be despatched house till one made it to the ultimate mat, incomes themselves a grand prize of $1 million .
When The Wonderful Race premiered on CBS in 2001, it was an immediate hit with each viewers captivated by each the gorgeous visuals and entertaining sport play and business heavyhitters, who’ve awarded it 10 Emmys for Excellent Competitors Program for the reason that class was launched in 2003, leaving it in a league of its personal. (Solely The Voice comes remotely near its file, with 4 wins.) And simply final evening, venerable host Phil Keoghan—who, like Jeff Probst, Julie Chen and Ryan Seacrest, has been round since day one and turn out to be actually an irreplaceable a part of the present’s DNA—handed over the present’s 31st verify for $1 million to winners Colin Guinn and Christie Woods after a season that noticed groups of returning gamers, in addition to groups from Large Brother and Survivor, race across the globe.
The finale acquired us considering: What have the opposite groups who had been fortunate sufficient to separate a cool million bucks between the 2 of them been as much as since their globetrotting days? Not like winners on reveals like American Idol or America’s Received Expertise or Survivor, even, winners on The Wonderful Race are typically heard from much less typically, so we thought we might observe them down. And actually, it proved harder that we ever imagined. However we did it for you as a result of we care.
And earlier than you panic about not each profitable workforce being characteristic, simply know that we tried our greatest. Generally, some individuals simply do not wish to be discovered.
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Rob Frisbee and Brennan Swain, Season 1
These finest buddies who met whereas working on the similar regulation agency in Los Angeles maintain the excellence of being The Wonderful Race’s first million-dollar prize winners. And whereas they do not nonetheless work collectively all these years later—Brennan is a associate at a Los Angeles movie specializing in patent, trademark, and copyright regulation, whereas Rob works as an lawyer at a unique agency within the space and writes for TV and movie in his spare time—they’ve remained as shut as ever. In accordance with Brennan’s Instagram, the 2 spent Thanksgiving 2018 collectively. For the reason that Race, Brennan has used his movie star to assist elevate cash for St. Jude’s whereas touring the world, hitting 39 of 50 international locations on his bucket checklist, as he instructed host Phil Keoghan in an episode of his podcast in April 2019 recorded alongside Rob.
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Chris Luca and Alex Boylan, Season 2
These lifelong BFFs, who met on the varsity bus heading to their first day of kindergarten, had been sure that competing collectively on TAR would don’t have any adverse have an effect on on their brotherly relationship. And it seems they had been proper, as Alex’s Insta account is peppered with images of the 2 spending time collectively. A couple of years after profitable, Chris, who has no social media presence that we may discover, married his long-time girlfriend in 2004 and settled down in Florida, whereas Alex used his platform to carve out a profession within the leisure business. After internet hosting reveals like On the Chef’s Desk and What’s Cooking with Alex for manufacturing firm Pineridge Movie and Tv, he partnered with Survivor contestant Burton Roberts to create manufacturing firm Round The World Productions, which has produced reveals like Across the World For Free, Jeff and Jordan Do America, and Rach to the Rescue for The Rachael Ray Present. He is labored as a correspondent for CBS This Morning, in addition to visitor host for VH1’s Large Morning Buzz. He is since launched the web site DreamJobbing.com alongside Burton and Lisa Hennessy, which he describes as “a subsequent technology profession platform matching candidates and corporations via video expertise” on his LinkedIn web page.
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Flo Pesenti and Zach Behr, Season three
These two good buddies with a mutual attraction to at least one one other that they’d by no means pursued since assembly in school squeaked out a win in season three whereas Flo was busy flirting with competitor Drew Riker. Following the Race, Flo dated Drew for seven years earlier than breaking apart in 2009. Zach, then again, married longtime girlfriend and documentary movie director and producer Elyse Steinberg in 2008 earlier than welcoming a toddler in 2012. After beginning a manufacturing profession of his personal at NBC Sports activities in 2004, he labored his manner via the business and has been the Vice President at The Historical past Channel since July 2018, in accordance with his LinkedIn. In 2009, he opened as much as Nationwide Geographic on what he did together with his half of the million greenback prize, telling the publication he purchased “some new computer systems and an iPod, which on the time was the most recent expertise” and put the remainder away, investing and saving whereas taking his spouse on “some nice journeys.” Flo, then again, is at present the vice chairman of PR at enterprise capital agency MacAndrews & Forbes. In 2010, she started relationship TV anchor, authorized commentator, and present Reside P.D. host Dan Abrams and, in 2012, gave start to their son Everett Floyd Abrams. Nonetheless, they maintain mentions of the opposite to such a minimal that it is unclear whether or not they’re nonetheless collectively or not.
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Reichen Lehmkuhl and Chip Arndt, Season four
These two made historical past as changing into the primary dedicated homosexual couple to win The Wonderful Race. Sadly, they break up up six months after competing. Following their break up, pilot and mannequin Reichen made headlines for briefly relationship Lance Bass as he dipped his toe within the leisure business, visitor starring on Frasier, The Younger and the Stressed and Days of Our Lives, whereas touchdown a spot within the solid of Brand’s former actuality sequence The A-Checklist. In 2013, he went to regulation college and has labored because the CEO of LeaseLock since 2012. Chip, in the meantime, has labored because the EVP of Flimp Communications, a human assets and worker advantages digital communications firm, since 2013.
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Chip and Kim McAllister, Season 5
Earlier than this married couple residing in Coto de Caza, Calif (aka the land of The Actual Housewives of Orange County) went on The Wonderful Race, they’d watched at their data expertise firm was taken over by their companions, leaving them ousted. After working the race, they started touring as motivational audio system obtainable to “energize and encourage your organization to win collectively as a workforce,” per their LinkedIn web page. They based PeopleStar FilmWorks alongside their son CJ to “deliver their experience in tv and movie to your online business through company video manufacturing. They’ve additionally shaped The McAllister Actual Property Group via Coldwell Banker, working as realtors in Orange County.
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Freddy Holliday and Kendra Bentley, Season 6
These two engaged fashions weren’t precisely fan favorites after Kendra’s insensitive feedback concerning the Senegalese individuals, however they gained however. They tied the knot on Might 27, 2005 and had two youngsters collectively earlier than divorcing. Freddy’s since remarried, to a girl named Ginger in 2015. Kendra’s appeared to have moved on as nicely, as her Instagram web page is stuffed with date evening images with an unidentified male who appears to be the daddy of her youthful youngsters. She nonetheless fashions.
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Uchenna and Joyce Agu, Season 7
After profitable TAR and returning for All-Stars, the place they positioned fifth, this married couple known as it quits, as Joyce revealed in a 2011 interview, although they’re “nonetheless nice buddies.” As Joyce defined, previous to the Race, they weren’t certain in the event that they had been going to stay married, however the expertise introduced them again collectively for a number of extra years. Earlier than splitting, they based a charitable youngsters’s group in Houston. In 2014, Leisure Weekly reported that Joyce was engaged on a memoir, whereas Uchenna’s LinkedIn highlights his present work as a motivational speaker and managing associate at a Houston-area enterprise improvement consulting agency.
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The Linz Household, Season eight
This workforce of siblings, Nick, Alex, Megan and Tommy, gained The Wonderful Race’s first-ever Household Version (which additionally featured a pre-Vanderpump Guidelines fame Stassi Schroeder) and have half their prize cash to their mother and father. In 2015, their mom gave updates on every of her youngsters to Cincinnati Public Radio WVXU. Nick is married with youngsters and had spent eight years residing in Manhattan Seaside, Calif. earlier than shifting again to Cincinnatti. On the time, he was associate at Tripack, a producing firm, however was made president in January 2018. Alex can be married and a younger father and was working in gross sales at a meals packing firm till March of this 12 months, when he joined Nick at Tripack. Megan can be married with a handful of children, together with her mother reporting in 2015 that she was a stay-at-home mother. Youngest son Tommy seems to nonetheless be single residing in Orange County, Calif. and is at present working as an Aviation Gross sales Advisor.
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B.J. Averell and Tyler MacNiven, Season 9
These finest buddies generally known as “The Hippies” had been probably the most well-liked groups to ever compete on TAR. Following the race, Tyler dabbled in movie, touchdown a small position within the film The Pursuit of Happyness, whereas opening eating places within the Bay Space together with his brother. After assembly girlfriend Kelly Hennigan in 2012 at a pal’s marriage ceremony, he popped the query on their two-year anniversary they usually tied the knot on Sept. 26, 2015 after going viral with an epic Save the Date video. They’ve since welcomed a toddler. BJ, in the meantime, is slightly lively on Instagram and has carved out an leisure profession, making visitor appearances on CSI and Weeds, in addition to starring in a handful of indie movies.
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Tyler Denk and James Branaman, Season 10
When these two fashions who met throughout a Semester at Sea program gained TAR, they had been recovering addicts who had been rebuilding their lives. Now, James is working as a photographer and is married to artwork director and mannequin Elaina Bellis. The couple welcomed a pair of equivalent twin women, Quincy and Rowe, a bit over a 12 months after their first little one, Lincoln, was stillborn. Tyler, then again, continued modeling after the race. Nonetheless, he has zero web presence following his time on the present, so what he is as much as as of late is anyone’s guess.
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Eric Sanchez and Danielle Turner, Season 11
These two initially competed on separate groups in season 9, started relationship, and had been invited again for All-Stars two seasons later, which they went on to win. Nonetheless, they shortly broke up, citing the gap between them as the principle purpose. Years later, Eric would admit they’d solely been relationship for 2 months and had been just about damaged up by the point the race started. Danielle has since married contractor Christopher Stout, given start to some lovely infants, and is working as a licensed actual property agent on Staten Island, New York. Eric, then again, is at present residing in Deerfield Seaside, Fla. In accordance with a Twitter account that hasn’t been up to date since 2014, he is labored because the director of gross sales for Southern Jet.
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Nick and Starr Spangler, Season 13
This brother and sister workforce had been already residing their goals once they gained TAR, with Nick performing off-Broadway and Starr cheering for the Dallas Cowboys. For the reason that race, Nick acquired married in 2013 and welcomed a son, Nathan, in 2015, adopted by Skye in 2017. Most lately, Nick has been showing within the musical Tootsie on Broadway. As for Starr, she dated fellow season contestant Dallas Imbimbo as soon as the present ended, although the lengthy distance proved to be an excessive amount of they usually separated. After overcoming a 2010 lymphoma analysis, she married Tyler Rey in 2013. In accordance with her LinkedIn web page, she’s at present residing within the San Francisco space, working because the Senior Supervisor of Fb’s Change Administration and International Recruiting Operations.
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Tammy and Victor Jih, Season 14
It was one other brother/sister duo who gained the million in season 14, with these two legal professionals popping out on high. As they instructed Folks after profitable, they deliberate to do the accountable factor with their prize cash and repay scholar loans and contours of credit score. After the race, Tammy started working at Google, first as Senior Litigation Counsel earlier than working her manner as much as her present place, Director, Privateness Authorized. She is married to her fellow Harvard Legislation classmate Mark John Murray. They’ve two youngsters. Victor, then again, has been working as associate at Los Angeles agency Irell & Manella LLP since Might 2015 and co-teaches the Ninth Circuit Appellate Follow Clinic at UCLA. An avid marathon runner, he seems to be single.
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Meghan Rickey and Cheyne Whitney, Season 15
This couple met in elementary college and, after 10 years of friendship, started relationship. They’d been collectively for 5 years once they gained season 15 of TAR. In February 2010, they acquired engaged and acquired married a bit over a 12 months later, on Might 7, 2011. Since then, they’ve settled down in San Diego and welcomed two kiddos, daughter Rumi Holland Whitney in September 2016 and son Mays Rhone Whitney in April 2015. Meghan works because the director of operations and vendor relations at True Pictures, whereas Cheyne is the pinnacle coach of the Samurai San Diego baseball workforce and a senior supervisor on the Rescue Social Change Group, a conduct change advertising and marketing company that works to enhance well being outcomes for at-risk audiences.
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Dan and Jordan Pious, Season 16
When these brothers snatched a win, Dan was working as a monetary advisor and Jordan was a strategic guide. Nowadays, Jordan’s LinkedIn web page notes that he is been working for Ulta Magnificence for the previous two years within the higher Chicago space, entering into the position of Senior Director Merchandising, Technique & Insights in April 2019. Dan, in the meantime, has been working as an operations supervisor at Reebook CrossFit Again Bay in Boston since June 2017. In October 2018, Dan married his spouse Jamie, an occasion that Jordan famous on Instagram “lastly” gave him “the sister I at all times needed.”
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Nat Strand and Kat Chang, Season 17
These two physician buddies grew to become fan favorites for being probably the one workforce in season 17 to not get mad at each other or anybody else. Since profitable in 2010, Nat acquired married and welcomed two youngsters. She continued to advocate for the diabetes group, as she was identified with Sort 1 at 12, sharing her story to assist others and lift consciousness. Kat can be married with two kiddos. She and Nat stay buddies and supportive of each other on social media.
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Ernie Halvorsen and Cindy Chiang, Season 19
In March 2012, this couple made it official and eventually tied the knot. Two years later, they welcomed son Maverick Zhang Halvorsen into the world. Once they gained TAR, they made a vow to supply sustainable employment alternatives for individuals in growing markets, which they made good on by investing in Thread Worldwide, based by Survivor alum Ian Rosenberger, and Piece & Co.
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Rachel and Dave Brown, Jr., Season 20
After profitable the million , this married couple stated that they’d be returning to Madison, Wisconsin to renew their common programming. “We’ll repay our mortgage and reside life as regular,” Dave instructed the Journal Sentinel. Sadly, life had different plans they usually divorced in June 2013. Rachel has since remarried to Chad Weiss. In accordance with Dave’s Twitter, he is welcomed a son, Nixon Ames, into the world simply this 12 months. With whom, nevertheless, stays a thriller.
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Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge, Season 21
These two had been already well-known once they competed in season 21 of TAR, having been the celebrities of The Fabulous Beekman Boys, which chronicled the couple’s makes an attempt at taking on the Beekman Farm. A 12 months after profitable, they acquired married on their farm and used their incomes to repay the property, in addition to assist different small farmers. In 2015, they launched , The Beekman 1802 Journal. Josh has written a handful of books, whereas each have labored at SUNY Cobleskill, as Brent joined the college as an adjunct advertising and marketing professor. Their lifestlye model, Beekman 1802, now options meals, magnificence, house decor and attire.
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Bates and Anthony Battaglia, Season 22
These former NHL gamers and brothers have settled into totally different lives, submit TAR. Bates is the proprietor of Fortunate B’s Bar in Raleigh, North Carolina, whereas Anthony works as a fireman in the identical metropolis who additionally owns and operates Axes and Ales Raleigh with fellow firefighter Ryan Nelson. The corporate gives get together excursions aboard a fireplace engine.
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Jason Case and Amy Diaz, Season 23
Profitable as mere boyfriend and girlfriend, these two tied the knot in 2015 and shortly welcomed two daughters and a son. Their youngest little one, Allyson, was born in March 2019. Amy at present works as a motivational speaker and host, whereas Jason stays the president of Case Snow Administration, Inc.
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Amy DeJong and Maya Warren, Season 25
These two pal and Ph.D college students had been by no means seen as an actual menace by the opposite groups, permitting them to shock everybody and win season 25. Since then, they’ve each graduated, with Amy occurring to be a meals construction scientist at Mars (aka the corporate behind Snickers, Twix, and each different sweet you’re keen on) and Maya Warren working as Sr. Director of Worldwide Analysis and Growth for Chilly Stone Creamery. How candy!
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Laura Pierson and Tyler Adams, Season 26
These two had been paired collectively as a Blind Relationship workforce for season 26 of TAR and one way or the other went on to win the entire thing. They by no means went on so far each other, regardless of the fascinating premise that introduced them into each other’s orbit. Laura returned to her day job engaged on Hallmark’s Residence & Household, entering into the position of Govt Producer, Expertise in 2017. Tyler, in the meantime, as been working as Chief Working Officer at CertifID, a real-time id platform for actual property, mortgage, and title business professionals to securely switch checking account checking account data, since March 2018. Each seem to nonetheless be single.
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Kelsey Gerckens and Joey Buttitta, Season 27
When these two competed, they had been relationship colleagues who each labored for information station KEYT NewsChannel three in Santa Barbara, Calif. The 2 made issues official in 2017, tying the knot on August 25, and introduced they had been anticipating their first little one in February. “Breaking Information: Child Buttitta coming August 2019!” Kelsey captioned her Instagram submit saying the excellent news. They each stay of their gigs at KEYT, with Kelsey working as climate anchor whereas Joey is an anchor and reporter.
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Dana Borriello and Matt Steffanina, Season 28
When these YouTubers dancers competed in season 28, they had been engaged to be married. Sadly, they known as it quits in 2016. Dana posted concerning the break up on Instagram, saying she was “devastated” after Matt “left me a number of weeks in the past.” Whereas at present single, the 2 have continued their dance careers at full pressure. And Matt likes to submit loads of ab-tastic shirtless images on Instagram. If you happen to’re into that kind of factor.
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Cody Nickson and Jessica Graf, Season 30
These two started relationship whereas additionally competing on season 19 of Large Brother and their recognition led to CBS searching for them out as racers for season 30 of TAR. They started racing simply 11 days after filming on BB wrapped and went on the win all the factor, making them the primary workforce from one other CBS franchise to win The Wonderful Race. They acquired engaged on February 13, 2018 and introduced they had been anticipating their first little one that September. They tied the knot on October 13, 2018 in Malibu, with their daughter Maverick coming into the world 4 weeks untimely on March 2019.
The Wonderful Race returns for season 32 on CBS someday throughout the 2019-20 TV season.