Jun 13, 2026
Love Island USA Season 8 has started, with audiences getting to know fresh faces in the Fiji setting — and the astute might recognize one name. Aniya Harvey is the daughter of retired NBA star Donnell Harvey, who played for the Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns. Harvey made his final NBA appearance in 2005 but continued to play professionally internationally until 2014. According to Complex, Harvey has largely been out of the spotlight since he hung up his jersey, shifting his focus to his family and charity efforts.
One such charity is Reconstructing Youth Foundation, a nonprofit that supports disadvantaged youth in low-income areas so that they can prosper. Aniya Harvey has worked at the foundation as the Southwest Regional Marketing Lead since 2018, according to her LinkedIn. Moneywise reached out to Aniya Harvey for comment but did not hear back.
Championing charities
According to ProPublica, Reconstructing Youth Foundation’s 2024 fiscal year revenue was $626,157. Harvey isn’t the only ex-athlete to launch a foundation. Other notable charities include the LeBron James Family Foundation and Magic Johnson Foundation. According to Rockefeller Capital Management, professional athletes are drawn to philanthropy to create lasting legacies, for community engagement and tax benefits.
Research into athletes’ motivations and the benefits they derive from charitable behavior are nuanced, with both altruistic and self-interest motives cited — strategically using their recognition or fame to increase awareness of issues, attract volunteer support and leverage other resources. Per the research, athletes who are established in their league tend to have a higher rate of owning a charitable foundation.
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The financial reality
Back on Love Island, the winning couple takes home $100,000. It’s unclear what Harvey will do with the money or the exposure if she wins, or what her motivations are on the reality show. The prize money is considered taxable income, so winners must pay federal and state taxes on it.
Some past contestants have said they’d save most of the money, invest it in business opportunities or donate it to charities. Many reality show contestants also land brand deals, acting and modeling gigs with their newfound fame — with*Business Insider* reporting some 2024 contestants made $20,000 to $30,000 in a month from five videos, and that was on the lower end. Harvey already has 123,000 followers on Instagram and 65,400 on TikTok. And considering she works for her father’s charity already, it’s worth wondering whether she’d use the prize money for charitable giving if she wins it.
According to finance expert Ramit Sethi, once an individual reaches $100,000 in the bank, it becomes about scaling wealth. He said it’s necessary to upgrade the way you look at your money. Sethi suggests maxing out your 401(k), paying off high-interest debt, opening a Roth IRA, a health savings account (HSA) and then a non-retirement investing account. He also advocates for 20% to 35% of money to go toward guilt-free spending. This could be a possible financial roadmap for people who come into larger sums of money, like reality stars.
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Amanda Smith is an Australian freelance journalist and writer based in the New York City area who reports on culture/society, technology, and health.
