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The Banker's Identity Is Revealed on Deal or No Deal Island
As Deal or No Deal Island's players compete on the Banker's private island, the mysterious figure observes from their yacht just offshore ...
Deal or No Deal Island transports the classic game show to a tropical island and adds a gauntlet of physical challenges that the 13 contestants must endure in order to have a chance of winning the biggest prize in Deal or No Deal history. Throughout Season 1, we’ve explained how the game works, spent time with host Joe Manganiello, and covered all manner of drama on the Banker’s private island.
One question remains: Who is the Banker?
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Well, luckily for curious fans, the Season 1 finale answered that question once and for all...
Who is The Banker on Deal or No Deal Island?
The Season 1 finale of Deal or No Deal Island revealed that the Banker is none other than Howie Mandel! With one player left standing, Howie flew in on his helicopter and revealed his identity to finalist Jordan Fowler — and the world.
Fans know Howie as the original host of Deal or No Deal, where he would take calls from the Banker and often go to bat for contestants when he felt they were getting an especially bad offer. Now on Deal or No Deal Island, he's gone to the dark side and spent all season looking to meet his match by putting the players through the ringer.
Who was The Banker on Deal or No Deal?
The Banker is a fixture of the original Deal or No Deal, as they are the enigmatic figure whose full face is never seen and whose true voice is never heard. They oversee the contestants as they pick briefcases and, every so often, the Banker will make a call to the host (Howie Mandel in the original; Manganiello on Deal or No Deal Island) with an offer and a quippy comment. If the contestant accepts the offer, the game ends. Their other option is to reject the option and press their luck.
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The Banker is the villain of Deal or No Deal, essentially. They want to offer the contestants as little money as they think they’ll accept — sometimes an outright insulting offer — in the hopes that they’ll accept it, tail between their legs, potentially leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars more on the table.
In the original NBC series and the CNBC revival series, the silhouette of the Banker was visible behind the stage, and Howie occasionally interacted with them.
Will Howie Mandel still be The Banker in Season 2?
Now that Deal or No Deal Island has been renewed for a second season, we have to wonder: Will Howie return for Season 2? Our hopes would be yes, though it feels likely he'll remain in the lap of luxury on his yacht to watch the next round of victims — er, contestants compete for a chance to face him in the final round. Don't expect Howie to be popping up in the jungle for an iced tea and a chat.
On the original NBC show, which ran from 2005 to 2009, the Banker was a man whose identity was never confirmed while the series was on the air. After the show ended, however, his real identity was confirmed to be actor Peter Abbay.
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On the CNBC revival series, which aired from 2018 to 2019, the Banker was a woman. Sleuths on the internet were able to correctly identify actor Carrie Lauren as this Banker.
Catch all of Deal or No Deal Island on Peacock.
Originally published Feb 29, 2024.
