Reality star Rob Rausch‘s victory in the latest season of “The Traitors” might not have hit screens until January—but it seems the former “Love Island” bad boy was already busy investing his winnings in a new real estate purchase long before the public was made privy to his reality TV success.
Rausch, 27, claimed a triumphant victory on Season 4 of the U.S. version of “The Traitors,” which aired on Peacock in January, winning an impressive jackpot of $220,800 after managing to convince co-star Maura Higgins that he was a dedicated faithful.
As a peace offering, Rausch later purchased Higgins, 35, a $16,000 Hermes Birkin bag, which he presented to her during a “Watch What Happens Live” appearance on March 4.
However, long before making that luxury purchase, Rausch splashed out even more cash, buying an Alabama fixer-upper for the bargain price of $101,000, closing on the property in September 2025, around three months after filming on “The Traitors” wrapped.
As first reported by TMZ, the humble property is located in his hometown of Florence, AL, and spans less than 1,000 square feet of living space.
Sources told the outlet that Rausch has been working on renovating the property for the past few months, transforming the two-story live-work space with some of his winnings—although one insider noted that the reality star will likely save the bulk of his earnings from “The Traitors.”
The quaint home does not appear to have been listed for sale before Rausch purchased it, although the upstairs apartment unit, which is understood to be the main living space in the dwelling, was previously made available for rent for the bargain price of $575 a month.
Originally built in 1920, the property sits on a parcel of land that spans just under half an acre, including a sprawling front yard.
He may have already made a return on his investment, with Realtor.com® estimates showing that it is now valued at around $121,900.
It’s unclear whether Rausch bought the property to serve as his primary residence or as an investment—having previously resided in a mobile home that sat on his family’s farm in Florence.
The reality star proudly showed off the quaint dwelling in a YouTube video filmed by influencer Caleb Simpson, while opening up about his humble Alabama upbringing, admitting that it was a world away from the bright lights of the fame he now enjoys.
Ruasch enjoyed a very simple upbringing, being homeschooled on a rural, 200-acre farm—and even after he shot to stardom on “Love Island,” he continued to eschew the typical trappings of fame and wealth, instead returning to the trailer home where he had resided for years.
The “Love Island” star was raised in the trailer with his brother, two sisters, and his parents. It has two bedrooms—one for Rausch and another for his father who he said in the 2024 interview “comes and goes” from the property.
“I think if I bought a house, I’d be like, ‘Damn, I wish I was on the land,’ you know?” he said when Simpson asked if he would ever move into a more permanent home.
Even after his family relocated to another house that is just a short distance from the trailer, Rausch stayed in the property, taking full advantage of the opportunity to live a laid-back lifestyle.
Rausch has not yet revealed whether he still owns or lives in the trailer—however, he does appear to be embracing some of the finer things in life, starting with his own dwelling and Higgins’ Birkin.
The on-air personality presented his costar with the purse during their joint appearance on “Watch What Happens Live” with Andy Cohen.
Cohen began by asking the audience if a Birkin would be enough to earn Higgins’ forgiveness, to which the majority of the viewers said yes.
The 27-year-old then put on a pair of gloves and handed Higgins a burgundy Togo Birkin 30 with gold hardware, which is worth about $16,000.
Rausch noted that he hadn’t touched the purse yet, adding, “Only the owner’s supposed to touch it first.”
“See, this is my win. I knew I’d have my moment,” Higgins said, adding that Rausch “knows what bag I want.”
Higgins then posed with the purse and shouted, “You’re forgiven. I love her. She’s beautiful.”
Rausch initially gained notoriety on “Love Island USA,” when he introduced himself to viewers as a snake wrangler who loved nothing more than stomping through swamps and spending time in the great outdoors.
His rural charm and apparent obsession with wrangling wild snakes are part of what captivated “Love Island” viewers from his first appearance on screen, although that appeal would ultimately be overshadowed by the controversy and upset surrounding his relationships.
After failing to make a serious connection when he entered the Season 5 villa as a bombshell, he was dumped from the show in less than a week. However, he made a very memorable return this year, when he launched another bid for love.
Over the month spent basking in the Fiji sun, Rausch had short-term couplings with Leah Kateb, Liv Walker, Andrea Carmona, Cassidy Laudano, and Daniela Ortiz-Rivera.
He chose to couple up for three days with influencer Kassy Castillo, but the romance was short-lived. They were voted off the show July 19, right before the show’s July 21 finale. At the recent reunion, Castillo revealed she’s no longer dating Rausch but said they remain friends.