Logan Molyneux

Now that Todd Herzog is back in Pleasant Grove with his million-dollar check after winning CBS's "Survivor: China" reality show, what's he up to?

That can't be right. A 23-year-old millionaire has got to be doing something.

"I'm going out of my mind," Herzog said.

That's because there's so much to think about and so much time to think about it. With no reason to work a temporary job and no desire to be swarmed by fans in public, Herzog said he spends some time visiting with friends -- "nothing too glamorous." But most of his time is spent sitting around at his mother's house contemplating his next move, much like he did on "Survivor."

"I really have no idea what to do next," Herzog said. "It's weird, because this has been my goal for so many years and now that I've done it, I have to re-evaluate everything. I keep changing my mind."

Herzog said he's had some opportunities come up that he can't talk about -- much like he couldn't talk about how far he advanced on the pre-taped episodes of "Survivor." He has been flying between the coasts to participate in various events, TV and otherwise, and using Utah as a home base.

In the future, though, he wants to go to college, travel the world, buy a condo and settle down somewhere. He wants to invest his money and find something that he really loves to do. In short, he wants to get a move on in life, and that means moving on in more ways than one.

How to win on Survivor

Herzog's mother, Shirley Herzog-Keeler, said she worried about him constantly during the 39 days he was in the Chinese jungle, near Zhelin Lake in China's Jiangxi Province. But when it was over, she said she felt like her son was an underdog who won the game.

"I was really proud of Todd," Herzog-Keeler said. "I think more than anything he played a game, and he played it well."

The amazing part is that, while watching all 14 previous seasons of "Survivor," Herzog developed a strategy that he implemented when he was cast -- and it worked. Sixteen contestants were stranded in the jungle at the beginning of the show who competed in various challenges and voted one person off the show each week. Herzog said his plan was to form an alliance early in the game and then stick with those people to the end.

"I absolutely think other people could do it," Herzog said. "I think if people are smart, they'll make that alliance."

Here's his recipe, roughly: one strong person, for the physical challenges, one weak person who people don't like, one leader, or someone who you can trust, and one talker. Herzog, obviously, was the talker. He said he went into the final tribal council (where a jury of previously voted-off contestants ask questions and cast votes for the winner) thinking he could get maybe one vote. Instead, he talked his way to victory.

"I had planned on letting people know what was my game play and letting them know I had to backstab," said Herzog, who was characterized on the show as a "schemer" and "slippery." "There was no sense in saying I'm sorry about it, because I wasn't. So I planned to go in playing the brutally honest game."

The other key members of his alliance were Amanda Kimmel, the person he could trust, and Courtney Yates, the weaker person. He connected with Amanda on the first day and with Courtney shortly after that. The three of them made it to the final round together.

"From Season 2 on," Herzog said, "I remember them talking about alliances and how important it was to have them. And I knew that if I could form an alliance with someone on the first day, I could go far."

Herzog said he'd do it all again, but would probably be having second thoughts if he had lost.

"If I would have come in second place, I probably would have spent a lot of my life thinking about what I could have said differently in the tribal councils. But knowing that I won, I still can't wrap my mind around it. It's so weird."

Life as a star

Speaking of weird, because all but the final episode of the show were pre-taped in China, Herzog's friends and family got to watch him make his way to the top while sitting next to him on the couch.

"I was sitting right next to him watching it, and that was really weird," said Sidney Clawson of Orem, who met Herzog after he returned from China. "I would watch him more than I would the show. He'd quote stuff sometimes and I could just see the happiness pouring out of him. It was great seeing someone who wanted something for so long finally get it."

Herzog, who is gay, has been dating Shane Spencer, a Springville gymnastics coach, for about five months.

Spencer said it was fun to watch the shows with Herzog, who could tell what was edited out.

"The part I liked about it is that we got all the backstage stuff that they didn't show on TV," Spencer said. "We got a lot of behind-the-scenes information from Todd."

For example, many episodes showed Herzog and Yates having a bad relationship, when, in fact, they had formed a strong alliance early on.

But now that it's over, only a few things have changed for Herzog.

"I still look at the clearance rack at the store," Herzog said. "In a way, I know I've got all this money, but it hasn't really hit me yet."

Actually, shopping is a much different experience than it was before he won. Clawson said he went to the mall with Herzog one time and they couldn't get any shopping done.

"It was two or three days after he won, and we went to the mall and he was getting stopped literally every 15 seconds," Clawson said. "I started acting as his secretary and lining up people."

With his winnings, Herzog bought a new Mazda RX-8 and just got back from a trip to Florida to see theme parks and some old friends. He's planning a Mediterranean cruise and hopes to visit Egypt.

"My goals were a) be on "Survivor," and b) travel the world," Herzog said. "I have the means to do it; why not now?"

But mostly, Herzog's friends say he hasn't changed much. He was raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but hasn't attended services in some time because he doesn't want people to judge him for his sexuality. But Herzog's mother said he still believes in many things he was taught. She said he went to a party for former cast members of "Survivor" and was disappointed to see some of them partying hard and seemingly wasting their time and money.

"He said, 'Mom, you may not think I'm a good Mormon boy in every way,' " Herzog-Keeler said, " 'but I was the good Mormon boy at that party. I can't tell you how differently I was raised from the people at that party.' "

Todd's plans

"The only way I think he's changed," Herzog-Keeler continued, "is that he's getting a bit impatient in what he's doing. He's got time on his hands and he's in the middle about deciding what will happen next."

Herzog said his plan is to move to a place where he can both go to college and then use the degree he earns, so he doesn't have to move around. But even before that, he has to decide what it is he wants to do. Clawson said the trouble is that Herzog has already achieved one of his biggest goals.

"He's like, 'I can't peak at 22, I have so much more I need to do,' " Clawson said. "I've been over a few times when he's at his computer going, 'Should I go to culinary school? Or how about design school?' "

Spencer said he plans to move with Herzog so he can also get a new start. The two are looking at opportunities and schools in Florida, where Herzog used to live, and in California, but much is still up in the air. Herzog said he hasn't seriously considered marriage because in the gay community, it's a very polarizing subject.

"I'd like to wait until it's more accepted in the world instead of just in one random state," Herzog said. "Because I don't want to do it just to prove something, I want it to mean something."

Herzog said he considered attending Utah Valley State College, but thinks he'd rather leave Utah. He's considered careers in marketing, advertising, film, public relations and many other fields, but still hasn't decided. But one thing he's sure of is that he won't stop setting goals and reaching them.

"It's kind of weird actually," Herzog said. "I just achieved my life's goal. Now I'm like, 'Cool. What's next?' "