Amber Brkich may just be the biggest "Survivor" winner yet.

Sunday night on the live finale of "Survivor: All-Stars," which pitted the show's greatest players from past editions against each other, Brkich not only won the $1 million grand prize and the title of "Ultimate Survivor" but also accepted a wedding proposal from Rob Mariano, the runner-up who became her boyfriend during filming of the show last year off the coast of Panama.

Jeffrey R. Staab, CBS
Amber Brkich celebrates with Rob Mariano at Madison Square Garden Sunday night after learning that she has won the $1 million "Survivor: All-Stars" grand prize. Moments earlier, she accepted Mariano's proposal of marriage.
Click photo for larger image.

"That's the big deal to me," Brkich said in a phone interview yesterday morning after appearing on CBS's "The Early Show." "The million dollars is secondary."

While "reality" shows built around the idea of romance, such as ABC's "The Bachelor," most often lead to short-lived or never-existent relationships, Brkich and Mariano appear to be the real deal. It could well be that this is no showmance.

Brkich, of Brighton in Beaver County, said she and Mariano had talked of marriage before he proposed Sunday night, so it was in the back of her head.

"I was thinking it would be pretty cool if it did happen tonight, but I didn't know if Rob had enough guts to get up in front of 30 million people and do it. He had so many pressures on his back to begin with. ... I did not expect it at all," she said. "When [host] Jeff [Probst] ... asked Rob a question and Rob started turning toward me, I knew right then and there [he would propose]. His heart was beating and pounding."

By yesterday morning, Brkich said she'd had only 10 minutes alone with her new fiance, so no wedding plans are set. She wasn't sure if any other "Survivor" cast members would be part of their wedding party, but she expects a few to attend, possibly even Probst and executive producer Mark Burnett.

"They pretty much had a lot to do with Rob and I ending up together," Brkich said. "We do owe a lot to Mark and Jeff."

The rules of "Survivor" say the winner can't share his or her winnings with another contestant. Brkich said she and Mariano will maintain separate bank accounts.

"He got $250,000 [as the runner-up] and I got the million. We can't share; it's against the rules," she said. "Maybe he'll win on the live show Thursday, but I do feel Rupert has somewhat of an advantage. So get on the phone and vote for Rob!"

Yes, there's still more voting to be done, this time by viewers. At the end of Sunday's live "Survivor" reunion show, Probst announced that viewers get to pick one contestant from among the 18 "All-Stars" players as a favorite, and that person will win $1 million. Fan Favorite Rupert Boneham is expected to be a leading contender for the additional prize. Votes can be cast at www.cbs.com or by sending a text message via wireless phone to 26161 followed by the name of the "Survivor" receiving the vote. Results will be tallied until midnight tomorrow and the winner will be revealed in a live hourlong show airing at 8 p.m. Thursday.

In Sunday's "Survivor" finale, watched by more than 24 million people, Brkich had to answer a question about whether she rode Mariano's coattails, the implication being that she didn't deserve to win as much as he did.

Jeffrey R. Staab, CBS
"Survivor: All-Stars" finalist Rob Mariano takes a moment before the announcement of the winner to propose to Amber Brkich, the other finalist and eventual winner, at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Click photo for larger image.

"People can think whatever they want to think," she said yesterday. "I know I played the hardest game. Just because Rob took all the bullets, I went up to people and said I was voting for them [at tribal council], but I approached it much differently than Rob. You tend to remember the worst over the better, I think. I did it right; I ended up winning."

She also endured one of the most contentious final tribal councils ever, as some players let their emotions get the best of them. But Brkich said the barbs of fellow players did not affect her.

"I felt bad in a way that these people were taking it such to heart, not realizing it was a game. I came out there not to make friends, not for any other reason than the game," she said. "How many [1 in 18] chances to win $1 million? This is hardcore. We volunteered for broken hearts, we volunteered to be backstabbed. I just happened to be the one to go all the way."

Brkich said she was holding her hands in front of her face during some of the tirades because she was trying not to let the jury members see her giggling.

At one point, she was asked what she'd do with the money if she won, and Brkich said she would donate to the MDA, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, but the disease she described sounded more like multiple sclerosis. Turns out that's what she meant.

"I did mean multiple sclerosis! If I can help both of them out, that's fine," she said.

Brkich said she expected the vote would be close, and indeed it was 4 to 3 in her favor.

"I definitely knew going into the game the vote would be based on emotion," she said, "which was exactly part of my strategy. I could bring Rob along and knew he'd be out there hurting a lot of feelings; that he has a little bit of a temper would work to my advantage. I let him do all the dirty work, knowing he would make some enemies on that jury and they'd be on my side and not his."

As the second "Survivor" winner from Western Pennsylvania -- Jenna Morasca of South Fayette won the "Amazon" edition a year ago -- Brkich encouraged other Pittsburghers to apply.

"Why not? I don't think they're basing [casting] decisions on where you're from. It's who you are and who they're looking for that particular season. There's definitely something in the water in Pittsburgh. We got a lot of luck, and I hope it keeps going."

First Published: May 11, 2004, 4:00 a.m.