'Survivor' Winner Richard Hatch Still Insists He's Innocent of Tax Evasion [Video]
Richard Hatch was the first person to outwit, outplay, and outlast competitors on "Survivor" back in 2000. But the glory of winning the reality series didn't last long; a few years later, Hatch was convicted of tax evasion and served 51 months in prison.
Thirteen years after winning the $1 million prize on "Survivor," Hatch is back in the spotlight on the July 28 season premiere of "Oprah: Where Are They Now." On the show, he still insists that he's innocent and calls the whole thing a "nightmare."
[Related: 'Survivor's' Jeff Probst Made Our List of This Year's Biggest Emmy Snubs and Surprises]
"I never did anything deserving of prison time," he states in this sneak peek clip. "I never attempted to evade taxes, which was what I was convicted of."
While his imprisonment is still a painful subject, Hatch also opens up about a more pleasant experience: meeting two of his grown biological children.
In college, Hatch became interested in sperm donation, mostly because of the money involved — $40 per donation.
"That kind of money was a consideration for me in college," he reveals. "I thought about the ethical implications and what it meant and whether or not someday the kids would seek me out."
Two of them did, through a donor registry. And since Hatch gave samples for two years, there may be more junior Hatches running around in the world!
The Richard Hatch episode of "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" airs Sunday, 7/28 at 10 PM on OWN.
