When Season 2 of Deal or No Deal Island premiered, many fans expected Howie Mandel to return as the Banker. During the first season, host and Game Master Joe Manganiello teased contestants about the identity of the Banker.
Finally, in the Season 1 DONDI finale, Howie was revealed as the mysterious Banker. Season 1 winner Jordan Fowler walked away with $1.23 million from Howie. Not a bad payday, right?
Well, the Season 2 contestants were shocked to learn that Howie wasn’t returning as the Banker. Since he met his ultimate competitor last season in Jordan, he was handing the gig to a new Banker. So, who was the newest Deal or No Deal banker?
After Joe told the contestants that the new Banker was female, it opened up a world of speculation. Now, with the final two guests, Alexis Lete and David Genat, hoping to face the Deal or No Deal Island Banker, it was revealed that the woman behind the game is Chrissy Teigen.
Chrissy Teigen is the Banker for Deal or No Deal Island Season 2
Chrissy is the perfect choice for the Deal or No Deal Banker. She has an organic connection to Howie. After all, Chrissy was a Deal or No Deal model during the show’s second season when Howie served as the host.
Of course, there were a lot of names thrown about as to who could be the new Banker. Jordan was a common guess, as was former DONDI competitor and Deal or No Deal briefcase model, Claudia Jordan. Last season, when Claudia was involved in an argument in the jungle, a tree fell. Yikes! She would have been a solid choice.
I even considered that Heidi Klum, who served as a judge alongside Howie on America’s Got Talent, might be the island’s newest owner. While that would be a fun NBC crossover, in the end, Chrissy is the ultimate choice for the Banker.
Of course, she understands the game from both sides. So, when she placed those calls to the host when contestants played Deal or No Deal, she knew how to push their buttons. And how to get under their skin with her shady comments. All in all, Chrissy was the ideal pick for the devious Banker. Look at how she plotted all those jaw-dropping twists in the game.
Chrissy Teigen’s Deal or No Deal history explained
Well, it seems that this mom of four was thrilled to return to her roots. “It was an honor to be asked to come back. It felt like a fever dream to me when we were shooting it [Deal or No Deal],” Chrissy told PEOPLE. “Sometimes I try to find clips and they’re hard to find, and I tell people and they’re like, ‘We don’t remember you.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, I got demoted real fast.’” She added, “But I loved the experience. I loved all the women. To come back so many years later in this fashion is just unreal.”
It is interesting how being part of Season 2 of DONDI is a full-circle moment for Chrissy. She returned to where she started her career, albeit in a much more powerful position this time.
While Chrissy did “connect” with the contestants, she couldn’t exactly root for Lete and David. That would be bad for business! “This is very real money. These are numbers that are so unheard of for most people, life-changing numbers,” Chrissy explained. “But because I’m the Banker, we’re against each other.” Again, Chrissy has to protect those millions from the contestants.
Chrissy Teigen had a do-over for Deal or No Deal Island Season 2
Since Chrissy’s initial gig on Deal or No Deal was rather short-lived, being the Banker on DONDI was a bit of a do-over for the model, television host, and author. “I was a nervous little girl when I did this before. I just didn’t have that kind of confidence yet,” Chrissy told PEOPLE.
She added, “And I saw all these women, they just oozed confidence. I was just so nervous every single day, but this is fun to be in a position of power.” Amen!
Not only did Chrissy offer deals to contestants playing Deal or No Deal in The Temple, but she oversaw the game. So the 14 guests that played for a chance to face off against her can thank Chrissy for those wild twists and crazy challenges. I think that the quicksand challenge was particularly gross.
However, if you were thinking that Chrissy might pop up on our screens as a reality TV contestant, the answer is a big, fat nope. “I’m not competitive at all. I don’t like big stakes. I’m not a huge risk-taker,” Chrissy stated.
But she feels that a Bravo show could be an amazing fit. “I want to watch things and talk sh*t. That would be a dream job,” she shared. Are you listening, Bravo? Let’s get Chrissy on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills immediately.
Deal or No Deal Island is available to stream on Peacock.
TELL US – IS CHRISSY TEIGEN THE PERFECT DEAL OR NO DEAL ISLAND BANKER?
