After a 15-day trek in the alps of New Zealand’s South Island, Charlotte, Simmone, and Mat have come out on top out of the 15 contestants who embarked on The Summit, claiming their share of the $1 million prize.
In Tuesday’s finale on Nine and 9Now, Mat, Simmone, Charlotte, and Trisha realised they had reached the wrong summit. With 24 hours left to reach the correct one, they faced losing over $580,000 in prize money if they failed to reach it by 12pm the next day.
Impeding their progress to the summit were two crevasses they had to cross, along with a note instructing them to leave the final hiker behind. Mat had promised to take Simmone and Charlotte to the summit, so he convinced the group to change the order of crossing, leaving Trisha and her $53,000 behind.
The trio finally reached the summit and celebrated their victory. However, The Mountain’s Keeper revealed one final twist: Charlotte was given the power to decide the distribution of the prize pot – whether to share it or claim it all for herself.
On the valley floor, the winning hikers were met by those who had been eliminated. After deliberation, Charlotte chose to give $100,000 each to Simmone and Mat, reserving a sum of $336,000 for herself.
35-year-old Charlotte from New South Wales said: “I feel I’ve shown myself and those watching that ability truly comes from the heart. That with determination, humour and a few tears, anything is possible. I took the first step towards that peak with the incredible support of my family, friends and partner, and also the support of those on the mountain who believed in me, Olympia, Lochie, Rosi, Mat, and Taylor.
“The prize money will allow me to create security for myself and my family, something I didn’t think would ever be possible as a public healthcare worker. Representation matters. This was for all the nubs out there. You can do it.”
Mat, a 48-year-old Queenslander, said: “Reaching the summit was amazing. And to do it with the people I’d committed to, getting there with was worth every bit of heartache and struggle.”
Simmone, 51, from New South Wales, added: “I went in solely for the money for a better life for my son and I, but what I got was a reignited fire deep in my soul. I’ll be forever grateful that The Summit handed me the match.”
The Summit is developed by Endemol Shine Australia (a Banijay Company) and Nine.