Joe Manganiello SaysDeal or No Deal IslandSeason 2 Winner Scores 'Most Money Anyone Has Ever Won' on TV (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

“Dr. Will” Kirby

Monty Brinton/NBC

HostJoe Manganiellosays in the trailer thatDeal or No Deal Islandseason 2 will have the “most dramatic and unpredictable twists” yet, which includesAustralianSurvivorwinner David Genat competing among the new contestants without anyone knowing his true identity.

“I’m not telling anyone that I’m the greatestAustralian Survivorplayer of all time,” Genat, 44, says in the trailer. “I am deep undercover.”

‘Deal or No Deal Island’ season 2 contestant David Genat.Monty Brinton/NBC

David Genat

While the 13 other competitors might not recognize Genat, many of them clock castmateParvati Shallowearly on as aSurvivorwinner and competitor fromThe Traitorsseason 2.

“Parvati gains the trust of men and squeezes them until they die,” Phillip Solomon says.

Shallow, 42, admits, “I could be a cult leader if I want to.”

‘Deal or No Deal Island’ season 2 contestant Parvati Shallow.Monty Brinton/NBC

Parvati Shallow

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With more than $200 million in prize money hidden around the Banker’s Island — and a new female banker — the 14 contestants will have to find a way to work together to grow the final pot total as large as possible.

Manganiello teases in the trailer thatDeal or No Deal Islandseason 2’s winner walks away with “the most money anyone has ever won in the history of television.”

‘Deal or No Deal Island’ host Joe Manganiello.Patrick Ecclesine/NBC

Joe Manganiello

Patrick Ecclesine/NBC

Two contestants seem to be competing for something possibly more valuable than money. “I’m playingDeal or No Deal Islandand I’m playingLove Islandtogether,” Maria-Grace Cook says in the trailer, which shows her smooching fellow contestant Storm Wilson.

Wilson, 25, tells PEOPLE that “aside from winning millions and millions of dollars,” he sawDeal or No Deal Islandas a “dating opportunity.”

“I haven’t had any luck with my girlfriends in the past, but I did find a cute island girl while out there on Banker’s Island,” he says. “It did make the time on the island a bit nicer.”

Cook, however, “didn’t come into this game looking for a boyfriend,” the 21-year-old tells PEOPLE. “I came in for the money.”

‘Deal or No Deal Island’ season 2 contestants Maria-Grace Cook and Storm Wilson.Monty Brinton/NBC

Maria-Grace Cook Storm Wilson DEAL OR NO DEAL ISLAND

But Wilson caught her attention during the initial boat ride over to the Banker’s Island. “As soon as we were sat next to each other on the boat, I was like, ‘He’s so attractive. I can’t get involved with him,’” Cook says.

The EMT has no regrets about partnering up with Wilson, though. “We had a good time,” she says. “We had some good little dates and we had a good conversation, so I don’t think I would regret anything with him.”

Wilson says he and Cook “dabbled” with trying to keep their romance going beyond the Banker’s Island. “She wants to figure out what she’s going to do for work, but we’ve had discussions of visiting each other from time to time,” he says.

Cook adds, “He definitely wants me to come visit Austin, so I think that’s going to be in the works.”

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Deal or No Deal Islandseason 2 premieres with a two-hour episode on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

source: people.com