The Golden God of Australian Survivor has become the Golden God of Deal Or No Deal Island. David Genat proved why he’s a reality TV legend by beating out his fellow competitors and besting the Banker with a deal for $5.8M dollars—the largest cash prize ever awarded in network television history—in the final case game of Deal Or No Deal Island. Genat turned down deal after deal as he competed for a final case worth $12.2M dollars. When asked how he was able to remain calm during the pulse-pounding game, Genat attributed his success to his late father: “I really felt my dad was there in that temple,” said Genat. “It was like his hands were there on me. When I had my eyes closed, I was praying, and I could just see the cases I was meant to pick up.”

While the rest of the contestants cheered him on, Genat was shocked to discover that the Banker was no other than Deal Or No Deal alum/ former case girl Chrissy Teigen. “I’m a huge fan of Chrissy and her being the Banker made the moment feel even bigger,” revealed Genat. “Even though she was against me, she felt a bit like a kindred spirit.” Someone who definitely was on Genat’s side was DONDI host Joe Manganiello, whom Genat calls a “good looking rooster” and a “positive role model.” “He loves this game and was so invested in all of us,” said Genat.

Genat acknowledged that he wouldn’t have made his mark on American television without the help of ally and Survivor legend Parvati Shallow, who masterminded “The Family” alliance right alongside him. Genat stated truthfully: “I wouldn’t have won without Parv. She’s unbelievable. I’ve never before met anyone that thinks like I do.” Genat added that he modeled his Australian Survivor game play off of Shallow, who he says has an “amazing ability to put people at ease.”

Genat spoke with DECIDER on a virtual press day to talk about his big win, his surprising new friendship with former nemesis Dr. Will Kirby, and where he stacks up against fellow reality TV icon “Boston” Rob Mariano.

DECIDER: I gotta ask: how does it feel to be $5.8 million dollar richer?

DAVID GENAT: Oh, my gosh, I don’t even know how to describe it to you. It is so incredible and amazing, and just, like, overwhelming. I have so much dopamine in my brain right now. I’m just this ball of energy. I want to go run up and down Sunset in Los Angeles. It’s nuts.

How long have you had to keep your win a secret?

Almost a year! I’ve been sitting on this a long time. I’ve really had to flatten out my emotional baseline so I could pretend like I didn’t win because I had to do some media during the season. I got to see the screener earlier this week, and it transported me back there. I have barely slept since. I’m just like on cloud nine. It’s the best, most fulfilling experience of my life.

What compelled you to keep going even after receiving those high offers?

I don’t know if you’re a spiritual person, but I really felt my dad was there in that temple. He passed a couple of years ago, and I so felt the same support I got from him when he was alive . It was like his hands were there on me. When I had my eyes closed, I was praying, and I could just see the cases I was meant to pick up. I knew in my heart that the Number 7 case had the $12.2M. As I was maneuvering through those case choices, I felt confident. It was crazy. I was having a spiritual experience in that temple, and I think anyone that was there will say they felt it too. It was incredible.

How shocked were you to see Chrissy Teigen as the Banker?

It was so good [laughs]. I’m a huge fan of Chrissy, and her being the Banker made the moment feel even bigger, no offense to Howie. Chrissy is a model. I modeled for a long time. Even though she was against me, she felt a bit like a kindred spirit. We were trying to charm each other a little bit, and I like that energy. She’s just so badass. I have daughters, and I love to see women do whatever they want and achieve whatever they want. It wasn’t surprising that the best Banker so far is a female. I was like, hell yeah!

Joe Manganiello was so present with you. What was it like to have him by your side during the final game?

In Australia they call a big, strapping dude a “good looking rooster.” Joe is that guy. He’s such a big presence, but he’s not intimidating. I love that about him. He could be this real standoffish, buff dude, but he has emotional intelligence. He’s such a positive role model for people. He loves this game and was so invested in all of us. As someone who likes making big TV moments, I was thinking, “I’m playing for my fellow competitors, but I’m also playing for Joe.” I didn’t want the final game in the Temple to be a waste of their time.

How different was it playing Deal Or No Deal in the finale with the Banker present vs. Deal Or No Deal earlier in the season when you eliminated Dr. Will?

I went into my first case game like it was a fight because I had been a jujitsu instructor. I was really being aggressive with the cases, like: “I’m going to take you out. I’ve punched a kangaroo before.” When I put Dr. Will out, I let him have it. He was making my life a living hell at that point. If you’ve seen any of Australian Survivor, you know that I don’t get flustered easily. I had this whole chill speech prepared to eliminate Dr. Will, but I got so worked up during the case game that I hardly recognized myself when the time came.

It was a very different energy the second time around. I kept thinking about my family, my father, and all my friends on the island. I was like: “this game is all about love, baby, because winning this money is going to afford me the chance to really provide for my family and to make their dreams, as well as mine, come true.”

Speaking of Dr. Will, he might have been the person cheering the loudest for you from the sidelines.

And that’s what I was not ready for. I expected him to come into the final game and be the Dr. Will we all know. Instead of him saying, “take the deal, you dummy,” he was rooting for me to keep going. He was like: “don’t take the deal, David. Trust yourself.” The people in my alliance that I really was close with—Parv, LaShell, Dickson and MG—were begging, “dude, please, please take the money.” They just wanted me to leave with something, but Dr. Will saw that I was on another level that night. I have gotten close with Dr. Will since the show. We’re good friends now, but we just couldn’t see eye to eye in the game.

I loved that the first person you went to during the game was Parvati. How important was she and The Family alliance to your game?

I wouldn’t have won without Parv. I probably would have gone out mid game. She is so good at these games. She’s unbelievable. I’ve never before met anyone who thinks like I do. I mean, I’m a huge fan. I based my Australian Survivor game off of Parvati. I was like: “I could be the male Parvati. I’ll come in, I’ll find girls, I’ll flirt with them, and then I’ll cut their throats.” To be able to play Deal Or No Deal Island with her was a dream come true. Half the time, I was trying not to fan out. She has this amazing ability to put people at ease. She is so smart. She thinks on her feet in all these situations.

Parv plays a clean game, whereas my game is messier. That is where we differ. She was really calculated about winning the challenges and keeping herself safe, while I would make snap decisions and worry about the clean up later. I was a big, physical, visible threat, but Parv was the biggest threat in the game and everyone knew it. People wondered why we were so open about our alliance, but we couldn’t play under the radar. I needed another good player to run through the game with, and she’s the best. She’s the greatest reality show star of all time.

Your pal Parv is going to be in Australia V. The World season of Australian Survivor. Did you give her any advice?

I did. Australian Survivor is so much more physical than the American game. There’s a lot of wrestling and combat type challenges. So, I said to her, “you’ve got to put some size on, girl.” She’s great with those static holding challenges and any other type of challenge that involves mental strategy, but she’s only a little thing. However, she wrote the Survivor blueprint, so there’s really no more advice I could give her.

Boston Rob is widely considered to be one of the greatest gamers of all time, but you did something he couldn’t, which was win DONDI. What did you think of his season? Would you like to see him on DONDI All-Stars?

I would love to do a show with Rob or against Rob. When I got cast for DONDI, they wooed me by calling me “Australia’s Boston Rob.” At first I wondered if Rob would be on the show. Then it turned out he had done season one. I studied that game because Rob wrote the blueprint for winning. He’s a competitive reality tv trailblazer.

At the end of the day, yes, I won Deal or No Deal Island; I did something Rob couldn’t do. Kudos to me, but I wonder… if he was in the game, would I have won? I would love to line up against him competitively. Physically, there is no way he can match me, but strategically, he might be there, he might be on my level. We’ll see. I would love to play against him.