Boston Rob Mariano Reveals Joe Manganiello's Remarkable Comment on His 'Deal or No Deal Island' Case (Exclusive)

Boston Rob Mariano’s experience on Deal or No Deal Island could have been changed if he hadn't been the last one to exit the maze.

"I didn't get the chance to open my case in the end, but Joe Manganiello and I have formed a strong friendship since the show," Mariano, 48, shared exclusively with We on Tuesday, May 14, after the Deal or No Deal Island season finale. "He mentioned that he peeked into the case and found out that I had the highest amount."

Mariano finished in fourth place during the competition series finale on Monday, May 13. He was joined by Amy McCoy, Jordan Fowler, and Dr. Stephanie Mitchell in a maze challenge to collect cases containing money. Manganiello, who is 47 years old, explained that the last person to return would be eliminated, along with the person holding the least amount of money.

Mariano shared with Us, "If I had gotten back before [Amy], I could have continued in the game."

McCoy, 42, and Mariano were the last two competing for a spot in the maze. McCoy was the first to enter the maze as she quickly solved the puzzle. However, she got lost while trying to find her way out and was passed by Fowler, 29, and Mitchell, 41. Mariano was the final one to enter the maze after receiving a penalty for peeking at McCoy's puzzle.

Mariano shared, "When Joe said, 'Stop,' I immediately realized, 'Oops, I wasn't supposed to do that.' They then decided on the penalty." He continued, "The penalty was to add on the time from when Amy entered the maze until the next person entered. They said it was three minutes, but it felt longer while standing there."

Boston Rob Mariano Says Joe Manganiello Told Him His Deal or No Deal Island Case Was the Highest

Boston Rob Mariano, Joe Manganiello David Livingston;Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images(2)

While Mariano was dealing with the punishment, it seemed like he had caught up to McCoy. However, McCoy, a Survivor alum, revealed that the foot race between them was not as tight as it seemed on the show.

"I believe I was just opening my case when I heard them cheering," Mariano shared with Us. "So McCoy had already returned just after I had grabbed my case. I was still going back over the hurdles, so it wasn't as close as it seemed on TV. But that's just how TV editing works."

After Mariano was sent home, the women opened their cases. Mitchell had the case with the lowest dollar amount and was eliminated. Mariano was devastated when he found out that the final challenge would be a tightrope walking faceoff, knowing he would have done well.

“I have a good sense of balance from playing hockey my whole life. So watching that unfold Monday night was definitely a little disheartening,” he said. “I feel like I could have crushed that last challenge.”

Fowler emerged victorious after defeating McCoy in the challenge following Mariano's defeat. She then went head-to-head with the mysterious banker, who turned out to be none other than former Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel. Despite initially losing out on some high-value cases, she eventually struck a deal with Mandel and walked away with a hefty sum of $1.23 million.

Editor's P/S:

Boston Rob Mariano's elimination from "Deal or No Deal Island" was a bittersweet moment. While he missed out on potentially winning a large cash prize, his newfound friendship with Joe Manganiello is a valuable outcome. Manganiello's revelation that Mariano had the highest cash amount in the case adds a layer of intrigue, suggesting that Mariano could have been a serious contender for the grand prize.

Mariano's penalty for prematurely peeking at Amy McCoy's puzzle was a significant setback, costing him precious time in the maze. However, McCoy clarified that Mariano was not as close to catching up with her as it initially appeared on television. Nonetheless, Mariano's elimination left him feeling disappointed, especially given his confidence in his tightrope walking abilities. Despite the outcome, the camaraderie and competition on "Deal or No Deal Island" made for an unforgettable experience for all involved.