Prior to finding massive success creating and writing the hit Max series The White Lotus, Mike White competed on Survivor and nearly won the competition during his season. In Touch takes a look into Mike’s time on the CBS reality show and how the friendships he made on Survivor later resulted in cameos on his Emmy-winning anthology series.

What Season Did Mike White Compete on ‘Survivor’?

Mike was a contestant on season 37’s David vs. Goliath, which pitted underdogs against people who had successful and accomplished careers. Mike was on the Goliath team in the season that aired in 2018. He listed his profession as “filmmaker” in his show bio, although it would be three years before The White Lotus rocketed Mike to fame in 2021.

At the time Mike competed on Survivor, he was a successful Hollywood writer, penning the screenplays for the Jack Black films School of Rock and Nacho Libre, Jennier Aniston‘s The Good Girl and Salma Hayek‘s Beatriz at Dinner.

Mike White’s Love of Wine Was Featured on ‘Survivor’

Mike noted he was a “travel and wine enthusiast” in his Survivor bio, and he was rewarded with his beloved beverage of choice in episode 13 of season 37. Mike and his teammates, Angelina Keeley and Nick Wilson, were awarded a full meal including red wine. The trio then went to look for a hidden immunity idol while Mike held his glass of wine the entire time, appearing to get more drunk as the search went on.

Mike White Almost Won ‘Survivor’ Season 37

The Emmy winner made it all the way to the final tribal council in the season finale. He lost out to Nick in a 7-3 vote, ending up as Survivor: David vs. Goliath‘s runner-up.

Why Did Mike White Go on Survivor?

In his show bio, Mike said of his reason for competing on Survivor, “My primary motivation is playing the game. I’ve always, always wanted to play and see how I would do. Secondary is the absurd challenge of it all.”

He added, “I have the desire. I know the game. I am a student of human psychology, like what people say and how they behave.”

Mike White Has Cast His ‘Survivor’ Teammates on All 3 Seasons of ‘The White Lotus’

Mike never forgot the friendships he made on Survivor. He cast teammate Alec Merino on season 1 of The White Lotus as Hutch, a bartender and waiter at White Lotus Resort & Spa Maui, which premiered in July 2021. The show went on to win Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series at the 2022 Emmy Awards.

Season 2 of The White Lotus opened with a scene including two more Goliath teammates. Angelina and Kara Kay played beachgoers at The White Lotus in Italy who had a conversation with actress Meghann Fahy‘s Daphne about how her stay at the​ resort had gone. Moments later, Daphne went for one last swim in the Mediterranean Sea before heading home, only to find a dead body floating in the water, which became the big mystery for the show’s episodes that followed.

The White Lotus season 3 featured a scene including Mike’s Survivor season 37 pals Natalie Cole and Carl Boudreaux, who played a couple staying at the resort’s Thailand location. The duo was seen walking to dinner as massage therapist Belinda gave them a friendly wave.