EW spoke with David on the Banker’s Temple set shortly after taping completed.
Monty Brinton/NBC
Warning: This article contains spoilers about theDeal or No Deal Islandseason 2 finale.
Drinks are onDavid Genat, everyone!
David Genat on ‘Deal or No Deal Island’.Credit:Monty Brinton/NBC
And he didnt just win, he won BIG.
But fortune smiled on David and he kept advancing before finally FINALLY!
accepting a deal and the $5.8 million that came with it.
David Genat, Seychelle Cordero.Monty Brinton/NBC
And what amount was that?
We spoke to the newly minted multimillionaire on the Bankers Temple set shortly after his life was forever changed.
Inside, my body is humming.
David Genat, Joe Manganiello on ‘Deal or No Deal Island’.Monty Brinton/NBC
Absolutely humming just this energy vibrating off me, and I think people in here can feel it.
There was just something happening tonight and it’s like a warm blanket over your body.
You just feel so elated, so comfortable, everything is going to be fine.
David Genat, Alexis Lete, Courtney “CK” Kim on ‘Deal or No Deal Island’.Monty Brinton/NBC
The money is worlds apart, but how does the feeling compare to that moment when you wonSurvivor?
You really do suffer for your heart out there.
Yeah, the excursions are tough, but it’s really the social dynamic that is unmatched withDONDI.
David Genat on ‘Deal or No Deal Island’.Monty Brinton/NBC
Trying to social engineer this game is not impossible.
So really the key is to be able to roll through and always adapt your strategy.
What was your strategy coming into the Temple?
David Genat, Parvati Shallow on ‘Deal or No Deal Island’.Monty Brinton/NBC
How did you want to handle tonight’s game?
So coming in to Temple tonight, I wanted huge stakes for people watching.
And to come in here and maybe half-ass this game was never going to happen.
David Genat on ‘Deal or No Deal Island’.Monty Brinton/NBC
And, man, to come out and actually win on the other side, it’s pretty good.
What was going on?
Yeah, I was pacing.
And I ride motorcycles, so I do crazy stuff.
That’s my jam.
I love doing those kinds of things.
There was just so much adrenaline, and where do you put it?
I didn’t want adrenaline clouding my thought process.
That got me through.
I live for this!
Were you pumping yourself up there or what?
Yeah, a hundred percent.
And Idolive for this, I live for these moments.
Ilovebig moments and I love being in them.
I think for someone in my position getting to do this, that was the biggest moment possible.
So it was either then or I was switching the cases.
And I have been blindsided with an idol before because of hubris.
So it seemed like the right time to do it.
I was always going to swap that case.
Seven is my number and I knew I wanted to swap it.
So I had that in my brain and I knew I wanted 7, it was just my number.
But 5.8 can turn into 12 very, very easily.
Maybe I’ll go to the casino.
What made you take the deal at $5.8 million?
You turned down all the other deals.
Why did you take that one?
I just thought it was irresponsible of me to gamble that much money when it was sitting right there.
And I knew by that point I’d done my job.
I got us to the end with $5.8 million.
I can never not be happy with that.
I’m laughing at how you saythatwould’ve been irresponsible.
As if turning $3.8 million downwasn’tirresponsible?
I mean, what are you talking about?
Well, at 3.8, people will enjoy the risk a little bit.
They’re like, This dude’s a madman.
But at 5.8, they’re like, You’re suicidal.
Why would you even turn that down?
I would be so low.
It would be the opposite feeling of this.
So there would’ve been some satisfaction, but it would’ve absolutely shattered me.
I don’t even want to think about that, Dalton.
You kept kissing the necklace at big moments.
Talk about the necklace.
The necklace is for my family.
They kissed one side of it and my wife kissed a small one on the other side.
I’m with them, they’re with me, so I kiss ‘em back.
So I do it in my own way to bring ‘em in.
And you’re just standing there with Joe watching the show.
I love that I live in that realm and I didn’t even really have to participate.
They just were imploding on themselves.
But I love seeing people air it out.
I think we had such a great cast this year.
I love stuff like that.
How surprised were you when Phillip gave you the big case to win you the final excursion?
I just knew he wouldn’t, and not for nothing.
But you’ve got the option to read Phil like a book.
Im good at reading, and he’s not a good poker player I can tell you that.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
