I love this take, and it is something that can be seen in real life as well. It is particularly apparent on a show like "Alone" where people try to survive in the wilderness for $500k. Most of the contestants are professional survivalists who need the money to get their own land to build and farm on.

I love watching it for the survival strategies and the human endurance aspects, but it does feel a bit dirty when they start talking about how badly they need the money as they try not to starve for a few more days.