'Survivor' wouldn't have happened had I not gone out there and helped CBS to sell sponsors to finance the first one. Part of my thinking on 'Survivor' was that it should have rewards that are corporate brands. A Big Mac, one thimble-full of Coca-Cola.

After a year of working for the Jaegers he moved on to another family in Malibu taking care of two boys for $250 a week. He is a naturalized United States citizen. From 1978–82 he served with the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment (3 PARA) and saw action during the Falklands War.

His current series are The Bible Survivor Celebrity Apprentice The Voice and Shark Tank. Burnett is currently the executive producer of five network television series with seven hours of network programming. In 2011 Burnett sold 50% of his company to the Hearst Corporation.