There is a brand new sole survivor.
After a season filled with many ups and downs, including contestant Jake Latimer being medically evacuated for a bite from a highly venomous snake, Survivor crowned its season 49 winner during the Dec. 17 finale episode.
Ahead of the season’s final tribal council, Kristina Mills and Rizo Velovic were sent to the jury, leaving Savannah Louie, Sophi Belerdi and Sage Ahrens-Nichols to duke it out in front of a jury of people they voted out.
In the end, though, Savannah was chosen by the cast to receive the $1 million prize and title of “sole survivor.”
“It feels incredible,” she told host Jeff Probst about her history-making win. “It's this larger than life feeling. I usually have the right words, I usually have some crap to say, but in this moment, I don't even know what to say.”
Savannah added, “I’ve never experienced anything like this before. It's just a crazy feeling.”
Before being crowned the winner, the final three women—marking the first all-female final three since season 29 in 2014—faced a tense jury who asked how each contestant outwitted, outplayed and outlasted the others. In perhaps the most notable moment of the interrogation, Kristina asked Savannah to name a family member or partner of each jury member, which she ultimately failed to do.
In the season’s penultimate episode, emotions ran high as Steven Ramm was sent to the jury in a blindside move despite the use of his “Block A Vote” advantage, all because Sage ultimately sided with Savannah, Rizo and Sophi—her opposition throughout the season. Before that, Sophie Segreti became a member of the jury, which Sage cited as “revenge” for Sophie sending her ally Jawan Pitts packing.
While Survivor’s 49th season has come to an end, anticipation for the CBS competition series’ milestone 50th season has been growing in the preceding months. Indeed, Jeff revealed in May who would return for Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, and the cast included many fan favorites like The White Lotus creator Mike White, season 45 winner Dee Valladares and season 48 champ Kyle Fraser.
Traitors winner Cirie Fields, known among Survivor fans as “the greatest player to never win,” will also appear on the next season, and she has remained mostly tight-lipped about the experience.
“I can tell you one thing about season 50, and I haven't said this about any other season,” she told E! News in July. “I've watched since Richard Hatch [won season one]. I'm a fan as well as a contestant.”
Given her unique perspective, she declared of the 50th season, “Best season ever. Best. Not just because I was there. Best. Season. Ever.”
While waiting to see who will be crowned the winner of Survivor 50, read on to learn who all is part of the upcoming season’s cast.
Mike White
Season 37 (DAVID VS. GOLIATH)
Cirie Fields
Seasons 12 (PANAMA-EXILE ISLAND), 16 (MICRONESIA – FANS VS. FAVORITES), 20 (HEROES VS. VILLAINS), 34 (GAME CHANGERS)
Ozzy Lusth
Seasons 13 (COOK ISLANDS), 16 (MICRONESIA – FANS VS. FAVORITES), 23 (SOUTH PACIFIC), 34 (GAME CHANGERS)
Benjamin "Coach" Wade
Seasons 18 (TOCANTINS – THE BRAZILIAN HIGHLANDS), 20 (HEROES VS. VILLAINS), 23 (SOUTH PACIFIC)
Stephanie Lagrossa Kendrick
Seasons 10 (PALAU), 11 (GUATEMALA), 20 (HEROES VS. VILLAINS)
Jenna Lewis-Dougherty
Seasons 1 (BORNEO), 8 (ALL-STARS)
Colby Donaldson
Seasons 2 (THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK), 8 (ALL-STARS), 20 (HEROES VS. VILLAINS)
Tiffany Ervin
Season 46
Charlie Davis
Season 46
Q Burdette
Season 46
Emily Flippen
Season 45
Dee Valladares
Season 45 Winner
Jonathan Young
Season 42
Christian Hubicki
Season 37 (DAVID VS. GOLIATH)
Angelina Keeley
Season 37 (DAVID VS. GOLIATH)
Kyle Fraser
Season 48 Winner
Aubry Bracco
Seasons 32 (KAÔH RONG – BRAINS VS. BRAWN VS. BEAUTY), 34 (GAME CHANGERS), 38 (EDGE OF EXTINCTION)
Chrissy Hofbeck
Season 35 (HEROES VS. HEALERS VS. HUSTLERS)
Rick Devens
Season 38 (EDGE OF EXTINCTION)
Kamilla Karthigesu
Season 48
Joseph Hunter
Season 48
Genevieve Mushaluk
Season 47
Savannah Louie
Survivor 49
Rizo Velovic
Survivor 49